Imagine having complete control over your blood sugar and insulin levels without worrying about counting calories. By embracing a simple dietary change, you could eliminate the threat of diabetes and improve your overall health and well-being. You don’t even have to give up delicious foods, just eat them the way your ancestors did.
A study conducted at the Steno Diabetes Center in Gentofte, Denmark investigated the effects of eating fast food from McDonald’s on the body’s metabolic function after a meal. The results showed that even in pairs of genetically identical twins, where one was overweight and the other slender, the metabolites (chemicals the body makes from food) in the blood increased their susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. This is because they both consumed fast food, which caused not only weight gain but also potential harm to the friendly bacteria living in their intestines.
A calorie is not just a calorie
The study’s findings suggest that the specific types of foods we consume, rather than the calories they contain, play a crucial role in our overall health. This is where the paleo diet comes in. This diet encourages eliminating grains, soy, dairy, legumes, and processed foods while limiting sugar intake. Sticking to the paleo diet can improve your well-being by leaps and bounds.
Unfortunately, a survey of the primary food sources consumed across the United States indicates that almost all the top ten items are prohibited in the paleo diet:
- Grain-based desserts (cookies, cakes, and donuts)
- Yeast breads
- Chicken and chicken-mixed dishes (fried chicken or wings)
- Soft drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks
- Pizza
- Alcoholic beverages
- Pasta and pasta dishes
- Tex-Mex dishes (authentic Mexican dishes mostly contain vegetables and meat)
- Beef and beef-mixed dishes
- Dairy desserts (ice cream, etc.)
Relying mainly on these food items while ignoring fruits and vegetables raises blood sugar levels and increases the risk of diabetes or pre-diabetes. This is why mere calorie counting won’t help in maintaining good health. Instead, focusing on food choices will have a lasting impact on well-being.
The gene-reprogramming effect of the paleo diet
The paleo diet’s effectiveness lies in its capacity to reprogram your metabolism by influencing how your genes express themselves. Although genes consist of immutable strands of DNA, you can determine their expression through your diet. By selecting specific foods, you can activate and deactivate various risk factors, like those associated with diabetes.
Sending your body the right signals by avoiding grains, sugars, and other processed foods will prevent any predisposition toward diabetes from manifesting. Opt for foods with plenty of healthy fats, which provide a steady source of energy and don’t cause spikes in blood sugar. Within just a couple of weeks, your body will adapt to this change.
To satisfy your cravings for carbohydrates, incorporate fruits and tubers (such as potatoes and yams) into your diet. These were staple foods for early humans before grain-based diets became prevalent, and they are unlikely to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In summary, adopting the paleo diet offers an array of health benefits, from stabilizing blood sugar and insulin levels to promoting a healthy weight without calorie counting. By making the conscious choice to eat like our ancestors, we can reclaim our well-being and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes.
