(page 62) OCTOBER 2014
HEALTH PROFILE
ALLOWED: Free range or grass-fed meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fruits, vegetables and nuts. NOT ALLOWED: Grains, dairy, legumes, added sugar and added salt.
THE PALEO DIET Number one rule of the Paleo Diet: If a caveman couldn’t have eaten it, you can’t eat it, either. “The nice thing about the diet is it makes you eliminate all processed foods. Most processed foods are going to have added sugar and added salt,” said Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian Annie Ailts. “Since you eliminate those, you’re probably going to increase your fruit and vegetable intake. It usually leads to weight loss, because you’re consuming fewer calories.” Another attribute of the Paleo plan is there’s no calorie counting. “You’re just eliminating foods and then eating as
much as you want of the foods that are allowed,” said Ailts. However, it can be a difficult diet to maintain. Grains, dairy and legumes are part of a balanced diet, so someone on Paleo could miss out on essential nutrients like fiber, calcium and vitamin D. Ailts suggests trying Paleo for a couple of weeks at most, as a way to break from processed foods, but to add a multivitamin. She also suggests consulting a doctor, who can refer a dietitian to help develop an eating plan.