The typical Western Diet that many individuals are accustomed to today seem to be taking a greater toll on the body than what may have been initially intended. In this day, there is much greater prevalence in various diseases, all stemming from inflammation. It may be surprising to learn that many foods that are consumed today in the Western diet are typically pro-inflammatory; in other words, the consumption of foods that are highly processed & preserved tend to cause the greatest degree of inflammation! Luckily, there is a way to rid oneself of the harmful toxic inflammation, and this way is known to us as the ‘Paleo Diet’. Now, the difference between the Paleo Diet and the conventional Western diet is that the foods consumed are wholesome and gravely in similarity to that of our great ancestors in the Paleolithic era. The typical ‘caveman’ at this time thrived on a diet consisting of meat, fresh produce and nuts. Typical foods that one may consume in this diet include many fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, meat, nuts, & seeds; therefore, anything with a conventional nutrition label should not be consumed on this diet. Now if you are a competitive athlete looking for that edge against your competition, you must understand that a high-quality nutritional program is essential to make substantial gains in lean mass, density, and ultimately, strength! The Paleo Diet will give you, the athlete, and the opportunity to make significant gains in your competitive sport through great emphasis of whole foods that are nutritionally dense. Below is a Paleo Diet guide that will take you to the next level in your athletic career, so sit tight and prepare to be introduced to, not just a diet, but truly a lifestyle.

  1. Fat Loss
    When it comes to athletes, it has been shown that there are great benefits associated with a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. In a recent study conducted on gymnastic athletes, it was shown that over an 8 week period, they had lost on average, 2 kg of fat and 2.6% body fat.
  2. Greater digestive health
    The Paleo Diet utilizes an emphasis of whole fruits and vegetables (preferably organic). With this emphasis on whole fruits and vegetables, you will be receiving substantial amounts of fiber in your diet! As a result, one can expect considerable results with respect to digestion and greater absorption of nutrients. As an athlete, it is absolutely critical to ensure that absorption of nutrients is optimized, as this will allow your recovery to be taken to the next level. Also, it is important to note that the Paleo Diet is rid of prominent allergens that may cause greater digestive disturbance such as lactose and gluten. In the gut (intestinal tract) gluten will act as a pro-inflammatory agent, meaning that it will cause great disturbance in the intestinal tract; therefore, if you are suffering from high levels of inflammation in the intestines, there is a great possibility that the absorption of nutrients will be emphatically lower! Higher fiber content in your diet is also beneficial for creating a greater detoxifying effect to vital organs such as the kidneys and liver, as it will allow for more toxins to be taken up in the large intestines and excreted out of the body. This optimization of nutrient absorption will be critical for lean mass gains and beneficial detoxification!
  3. Lean mass gains!
    While on the Paleo Diet, you can surely expect to gain greater lean muscle mass as you will be consuming a larger quantity of lean protein sources in comparison to carbohydrates and fats. Increasing lean protein sources such as bison, chicken, & venison (deer) and decreasing carbohydrate load will result in greater gains in lean muscle mass, allowing you to achieve a body frame of greater density! Also, try to place an emphasis on leaner cuts of protein sources that are organic, as this will enhance the quality of the meat itself; one can expect to find greater sources of omega-3 fatty acids, lower toxic load, and far less saturated fat than conventional cuts of meat.
  4. Greater Alkalinity!
    In response to the conventional Western Diet, it is strong to suggest that many individuals are currently suffering from high levels of inflammation. It has been well documented that the initial cause of many forms of disease stems from inflammation. Although there are few ways to decrease inflammation, it is very critical to emphasize a diet free of processed foods & allergens to truly optimize a pro-inflammatory body. Also, the typical Western Diet contains an overly abundant ratio of omega-6:omega-3 fatty acids; a diet abundant in omega-6 fatty acids will undoubtedly result in greater inflammation, and inherently, decreased performance! Through the Paleo Diet, you can expect to achieve greater increases in alkalinity and significant decreases in inflammation as a result of consuming high concentrations of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean protein sources such as bison and fish; namely, salmon, as approximately 4 oz. contains 4 grams omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory classification of essential fatty acids (EFA); in salmon, omega-3 fatty acids contain EPA and DHA which are beneficial for the heart and brain. Other sources of omega-3’s include nuts, more prominently brazil nuts, walnuts, cashews, and almonds.
  5. Greater Recovery
    Through encompassing a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, you can surely expect to receive great benefit in your recovery! With this being said, you will be emphasizing greater micronutrient delivery into the muscle tissue as a result of this influx, and subsequently, this will allow you to receive greater recovery benefit. Omega-3 fatty acids as an anti-inflammatory aid are able to decrease inflammation, hence its name, and thus allowing greater alkalinity at the site of the muscle tissue post-exercise. Through consuming a diet emphasizing whole fruits and vegetables, inflammation will be decreased significantly, thus resulting in a decreased incidence of joint pain, muscular soreness, and overall fatigue.