Some experts think that you should eat like a cavewoman because it's better for your health. According to Dr. Loren Cordain, professor of health and exercise science at Colorado State, “It makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. “It’s a system of eating that we’ve already adapted to.”
There are other experts who don’t agree. They contend that surely the body can adapt to changes in nutrition. Dr. Marlene Zuk, professor of biology at the University of California-Riverside, said, “We don’t know exactly what early humans ate.
“But, their diet almost certainly included grains at least some of the time and they also ate many different foods depending on where they lived and what time period you’re talking about...the idea that humans haven’t had enough time since the advent of agriculture to evolve adaptations to new foods is false.”
Who’s right? In my opinion, both camps are right to some extent. The Cavewoman or Paleo Diet has been around forever but has gained significant attention over the last decade. Its high concentration of meat (as much as 65 percent of daily calories), fruit, non-starchy vegetables, nuts and seeds are good for your diet.
At the same time, no one can argue that foods such as oatmeal, olive oil, avocados, green tea, brown rice, whole grains and beans are also good for your diet.
Whatever the diet, the same rule applies: you will gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn.
So, what’s a woman to do? I say eat a balanced diet, adjusted for your goals. Your body needs the macronutrients to function properly:
--proteins (20-35 percent of daily calories)
--fats (mainly unsaturated, 10-20 percent) and
--carbohydrates (50-60 percent)
In my opinion, there are elements of the Cavewoman diet that will work well for anyone. Eating protein (meats, seafood, nuts) with every meal is always good. Proteins keep you fuller for longer, helps you eat less and the body has to work harder to digest them. Proteins also help rebuild muscle tissues after a tough weight training workout. And the health benefits of fruits and vegetables are unquestioned.
There are also foods, like those mentioned above, not included in the Cavewoman diet that taste good and are good for your body.
The most important thing to remember when putting your meals together: eat healthy, nutritious meals that you like and you can maintain in order to reach your health, fat loss and weight loss goals. You don’t have to eat like a cavewoman to do that.
Mark Dilworth, BA, PES, CPT is a Certified Personal Trainer and former NCAA Division I athlete. Mark is the owner of My Fitness Hut, Her Fitness Hut, Sports Fitness Hut and My Nutrition Hut. Mark’s Fat Blaster Athletic Training System has been proven to give his clients the fit, sculpted and athletic-type bodies they want. Visit Mark’s main site:
Your Fitness University http://yourfitnessuniversity.com