5 Ways The Paleo Diet Benefits Your Workouts:
By Chef Murph
The Paleo diet has become increasingly popular in recent years, with advocates citing its many health benefits. The idea behind the diet is you only eat foods that were available to our ancestors, such as cavemen and in prehistoric times. 
In practice, this means to added chemicals, flavorings or sweeteners, no processed foods or convenience foods and certainly no dairy products.
Instead, you focus on fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, meat, fish and plant based foods. The argument for this diet is that our ancestors did not suffer from obesity or many of the health issues that many people do today. If we become more active and eat a diet similar to theirs, then we should be able to combat some of the health issues we are facing in today’s world.
Here we will look at the different ways that a Paleo diet can specifically benefit your workouts.
- Protein levels are increased on the Paleo diet
This diet largely consists of foods such as meat, fish, seeds, and nuts; foods that are high in protein. Protein promotes muscle growth by helping to repair muscle fibers. The paleo diet can therefore be ideal for helping your body recover after a workout, enabling you to become a stronger, fitter individual.
Many athletes and those who work out on a regular basis will report the benefits of eating a high protein diet, particularly if you are looking to tone up.
The Paleo diet is excellent for this as the foods are naturally high in protein and do not have any added modern day chemicals or additives that make them much more unhealthy than they need to be.
- Low-fat levels
The paleo diet includes many foods that are low in fat. Eating lean foods is another way to help maintain your fitness and keep your body trim. A diet high in fat can lead to feelings of lethargy, not to mention the long-term health risks (cardiovascular disease, diabetes etc.) that are linked to a high fat diet. Our ancestors did not suffer from obesity as we do in the modern world, and this is partly due to them consuming a lean diet with very little fat.
- Carbohydrate
Bodies need fuel, especially for a workout. Consuming carbs enables you to stock up or replenish your glycogen levels pre or post workout respectively. There is no need to load up on pasta or other modern carbohydrates such as cakes and biscuits.
The paleo diet has plenty of options for acquiring the carbs you need. Starchy vegetables like potatoes and sweet potatoes would give you enough carbohydrate without reaching for any modern-day processed carbohydrates.
- Paleo exercises
The exercise follows the similar thought pattern as the diet – our ancestors did not have access to pools, saunas, or expensive gym equipment. Instead, they relied on the natural environment and what they were able to access. Although these machines are of course useful, it is possible to work out solely using a Paleo approach.
Exercises that would be suitable include squats, lunges, running, swimming (outside, not indoor pools), and pushing/pulling. The Paleo diet is perfectly suited to support this level of exercise and the two work very effectively when used in combination.
- The good type of fat
Although there is much information out there that says we should eat less fat and fat-free versions of products are always better, it is not that simple. There are different types of fats, and some are better, even essential to our body’s basic functioning. Fat is particularly useful for Paleo types of exercises, such as running as it helps the body to recover.
Enjoy
Chef Murph
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