-1749819194831.jpg)
Riding high on adrenaline and sheer will power, every one of us tries to adapt to a healthy lifestyle. And to kickstart this routine, the first step is choosing the right diet. Nowadays, the internet has its chokehold on people trying to lose weight. Be it the Ketogenic, Mediterranean, Low-Carb, Plant-based, or Paleo diet, each of them has been popularised by the might of social media.
However, sticking to any diet for a long time is a herculean task and requires a great deal of self-control. But everyone possesses this virtue and sooner or later, craves a cheat meal or day.
To dig more into the benefits of a cheat day while on the Paleo diet, OnlyMyHealth exclusively sought expert advice from
Paleo Diet or Paleolithic Diet is a type of new diet that requires people to eat strictly the foods that were available during the Paleolithic Era. The Paleolithic Era dates from around 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.
As per experts, the modern-day paleo diet includes fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. These are foods that early humans could get by hunting and gathering. However, this means that while exercising this diet, one must let go of all carbs and essentially packaged or preserved foods.
: https://www.onlymyhealth.com/effects-of-keto-on-obese-people-nutritionist-explains-12977832660
Coach Varnit Explains, “When weighing its pros and cons, the paleo diet isn’t ideal for a lot of people. The Paleo Diet restricts you from eating processed foods (though not all are harmful to your health) and focuses on eating like our hunter-gatherer ancestors did 2 million years ago.”
“This diet comes with a long list of drawbacks, such as high cost, mineral and vitamin deficiencies, and cardiovascular concerns tied to higher red meat intake.” He added.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, this diet shows promising data, but the results aren’t robust and don’t provide enough evidence to support its widespread use. Your best bet is to identify your deficiencies, start moving, stay active, get good sleep, and eat balanced, preferably home-cooked meals.
Top Stories
The Paleo diet is beneficial for people looking to lose weight and keep it that way. As this requires non-processed food to be a strict no, cheat meals or days might seem like a bad idea. But here’s the twist, since the Paleo diet allows fresh and available foods for consumption, it doesn’t get much majorly affected by a cheat meal or two. This allows the people on a diet to satisfy cravings and manage their routine.
According to Coach Varnit, “Paleo diet in itself is very restrictive, so it would be a good idea to take the healthy suggestions from the routine, such as to avoid processed high-calorie food items. But also to learn that a lack of variety from whole food groups may lead to deficiencies.”
According toresearch by The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, scheduled cheat days provide a psychological break, helping reduce food obsession and cravings. This makes it easier to maintain Paleo eating long-term without feeling deprived.
“If you follow a healthy routine and stay consistent with it, that would be your new normal, and there’s a chance that you may experience an upset stomach if, by chance, you consume some unhealthy processed food groups or items,” said Coach Yadav.
According to Coach Yadav, “For people struggling with consistency, I would review what their actual problems with sticking to a diet are and make a sustainable plan. Moreover, check if they are allergic to any food items, or if their blood markers are off the charts in any way.”
He added, “Another thing to keep in mind and consider would be how their relationship with food exists and if they have any kind of disordered eating patterns. All of these will allow for a clearer picture to solve the consistency problem.”
Following a strict Paleo diet can be mentally and physically stressful. Instead of calling it a cheat day, treat it as a day of flexible, home-cooked, clean eating. This approach reduces guilt and helps maintain a balanced relationship with food.
