Paleo

But... I love my pasta!

Paleo eating came from the observation that primitive men were better health-wise. The average Homo Sapien back then was tall, muscular, agile, athletic, and incredibly versatile. The average Homo Sapien now is overweight, out of shape, stressed out, unhappy, sleep deprived and dying from a myriad of preventable diseases. (Steve in http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/)

Because of this paleo eating main idea is to return to a more ancestral approach to eating; that means eating real, whole, unprocessed foods. The idea is that by eating food that do us more good than harm, we will achieve optimal health.

While there isn’t a definitive, monolithic, one-size-fits-all Paleo diet, all Paleo eaters should adhere by the following points:
• Eat whole, unprocessed, nutrient-dense, nourishing foods. Prioritize grass fed and pastured meats and eggs, wild-caught seafood, and vegetables. Enjoy fruit, nuts, and seeds in moderation.
• Avoid foods that will harm us by causing systemic inflammation, wrecking our guts, or derailing our natural metabolic processes. Abstain from toxic, pro-inflammatory foods like gluten-containing grains, legumes, sugar, and the laboratory-concocted Frankenfoods found in the middle aisles of your neighborhood supermarket (Michelle http://nomnompaleo.com)

One of the main advantages ( in addition to choosing not to pollute your body with substances that serve no biological purpose ) is that paleo eating is also about connecting the dots and creating consciousness regarding how food production impacts on issues like the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, algae blooms and "dead zones" in our oceans, and the effects of substances like BPA on our metabolisms.

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of well-controlled scientific experiments that show how certain characteristics of the Paleo Diet improve human health. Paleo-like diets reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome hypertension, age-related sarcopenia, osteoporosis, certain cancers, and auto-immune diseases.

Paleo-like low salt diets improve blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and kidney disease., Because it is low glycemic-load, it improves blood chemistry, insulin sensitivity, diabetic symptoms, obesity, blood pressure, risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and acne. Paleo-like diets high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids have reduced the risk of heart attacks, stroke, certain cancers, and improved symptoms of many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Because it is rich in trace nutrients compared to the typical Western diet, the Paleo Diet reduces the risk for many chronic diseases that are related to low intake of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.