Paleo diet for athletes

rock_hopper

Has anyone read this? I recently bought a copy to see what it's all about. The idea is that we eat more like our paleolithic ancestors, more fruit, vegetables, lean meats and fish. I was a bit sceptical at first but after reading the book a lot of it makes sense. You cut out grains and dairy (bread, rice, pasta) apart from directly before, during and after your training to stock and restore glycogen levels. The author talks a lot about not getting enough vitamins, minerals, good fats and a poor omega 6 to omega 3 balance in our modern diet. All of which helps massively with recovery.

I have changed my eating habits significantly since reading this book and feel much better for it, not just for training but for long term health as well. Although I don't eat 100% like this (maybe 80% as I love bread, pasta etc) I think it's a much healthier and nutritious way of eating.

Gavin Gilbert

I took a look at it, but my local Tescos won't carry Woolly Mammoth Steaks :roll:

Ollieda

so basically it's saying cut out carbs and dairy except for when you need them? Isn't that just the basic taking everything in moderation idea?

Blonde

Garmin team in particular have a similar approach from what I have read about their diets. I don't think it's a deliberate attempt at a Paleo diet though (sounds s bit of an over-gimmicky label to me - as the poster above said, what you've described just sounds sensible), it's just that they don't over emphasize carbs. I too have cut down (though don't avoid completely) bread, pasta, rice etc and replaced with more vegetables and more protein. I also am much better for it, though not before time - I spent several years with health problems that were partly diet related. I have also read a summary of research findings which suggested that carb loading is less effective for women and that would seem to be the case from my own experience. I certainly feel better for not doing it and my fitness and average speeds have improved since cutting my carb intake, with no apparent side effect of fatigue - quite the opposite, I sleep fewer hours and have more energy now.

ut_och_cykla

Same here blonde. Still eat carbs in form of pasta bread etc but perhaps half what I ate before & more fruit, veg and lean protein - body feels 'livelier'

Headhuunter

This doesn't seem gimmicky to me, it seems entirely logical and return to basics. Our bodies have changed little over the millennia and we were designed to eat food more or less in its raw state with little added yet nowadays we attempt to feed ourselves on processed flour, homogenised dairy and high fat/high salty ready meals and we wonder why we get tired/feel the need to chug energy drinks all the time. I eat whole grains, seeds, nuts, eat fish and relatively little meat, pasta, bread and other processed stuff etc.

Blonde

We weren't designed and we have changed (our less sharp and different shaped teeth are one example) but I don't eat much prcessed stuff either and eat mostly veg and fruit for my carbs rather than longer chain grains (except fo my daily bowl of porridge with added honey) and find this works well for me. No stomach problems now compared to the daily nightmare I had when bread and pasta were my staples. I dont use energy drinks on the bike either as they always gave me a bad stomach. To me this is just a sensible and tasty/enjoyable diet. I wasn't brought up to eat snack/junk "foods" so it's not difficult for me to avoid them - I don't actually like them. I do admit to eating a lot of Greek yogurt with blackcurrants, or blue berries or other soft fruit though. I get through several 500g tubs of yogurt a week. :oops:

Headhuunter

Blonde wrote:

We weren't designed :

Hmmm, I think some philosophers and religious zealots may take you to task there!

Blonde wrote:

and we have changed (our less sharp and different shaped teeth are one example)

Our bodies have altered very little if at all over the past few thopusand years. This includes out teeth. We are essentially the same as Stone Age man. Go back a hundred thousand years then yes, we were almost a different species.