Paleo Diet By Yang Haddish Abadi Akobi Akakpo

Introduction Human health and life is precious Taking care of the next generation is our responsibility. Great consumption of Processed Foods causes health problems. Changing our eating habits to Paleo Diet, helps us keep our body healthier and stronger.

1. Processed Foods and its Disadvantages Eating too much processed food often leads to obesity, cancer and diabetes. So how do you start eliminating these foods and making healthy food choices? We shall see this under Paleo Diet.

What are processed foods? Heated (e.g. processed canned and dried food) Milled (e.g. white flour) Pressure treated (e.g. milk) Irradiated (e.g. herbs, spices, herbal infusions) Contain food additives (e.g. noodles, dairy products, cooking sauces). Processed foods are nearly always in a package.

Why do we process foods? a) To make them safer, keep longer, or more convenient. Processing: kills harmful bacteria or other microorganisms. Important for food traveling long distances or sits in supermarkets for long periods. to be preserved in order to be safe to eat.

…Why do we process foods? b) To Extend shelf life. The natural fats in many whole foods go rancid within a few days, so removing them and replacing them with cheap, stable trans fats extends shelf life by months. o Trans fats are fats created by overheating vegetable oils, and changing the molecular structure of the fat. o Trans fats cause heart disease and cancer. Artificial additives are often used.

Disadvantages of Processed Foods 50-80% Important nutrients and vitamins are lost in each processing step. over 60% of vitamins are lost in the extraction of flour from wheat. affects taste and properties of the food. cheap or artificial sugars, salts, fats or additives to: disguise the taste of low quality ingredient s

The dangers of processed food Processed foods often contain food additives, some of which can be harmful or even life-threatening. Harm can come from simply eating the additive. Example: The preservatives known as sulphites are linked symptoms like headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, skin rashes and behavioural problems, and asthma.

Solution Eliminating processed foods is the first step in making healthy food choices. Avoid packaged foods as much as possible, and look for fresh food alternatives. Paleo Diet is the best Alternative that keeps people healthy and live long.

2. Advantages of Paleo Diet What is Paleo diet? Paleo diet is the healthiest way you can eat because it is the daily nutritional approach that works with your genetics to help you stay lean, strong and energetic. Cordian (2010) specifies the content of paleo diet as: -Diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats and seafood, and -low in refined sugars, grains, saturated and trans-fats, salt, high-glycemic carbs, processed foods and dairy products.

… Advantages of Paleo Diet According to Rob Wolf: research in biology, biochemistry, ophthalmology, dermatology etc. indicates that our modern diet is full of refined foods, trans- fats and sugar, Robb Wolf says the food is the root of degenerative diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

Why do we choose Paleo Diet? a)Lean proteins: -Support strong muscles, healthy bones and optimal immune function. -Protein also makes you feel satisfied between meals. b) Fruits and Vegetables -Are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients -Decrease the likelihood of developing a number of degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes and neurological decline. c) Healthy fats from Nuts, Seeds, Avocados, Olive Oil, Fish oil and Grass-fed meat – Increases vitality, provides energy, builds strong muscle and bone

Health Benefits of Paleo Diet According to Robb Wolf: – diets rich in Monounsaturated and Omega- fats dramatically reduce the instances of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline. – Paleo Diet reduces Cardiovascular Disease According to Smith (2009) using paleo diet: -gets your weight and blood sugar under control -reduces waist sizes and lowers blood sugar in heart disease and blood sugar problems. -improves cardiovascular risk factors If you have taken gluten out of your diet, you already have started a step toward eating Paleo.

… Health Benefits of Paleo Diet Paleo Diet increases Autoimmunity -Autoimmunity is a process in which our bodies own immune system attacks us. -Eating Paleo dies helps the immune system to identify a foreign invader, attacks it, and ideally clears the infection Additional health advantages include: -Anti-inflammatory -Burn off stored fat -Reduced allergies -Clear skin, better teeth -Improved sleep patterns -Balanced energy throughout the day -More efficient workouts

Conclusion We have seen that Processed Foods are causing health problems including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and many other diseases. The history of Paleo Diet which our ancestors used to eat by gathering and hunting tells us that they stayed healthy and lived longer. Current study on gatherers and hunters as well as from the users of Paleo Diet has shown that people do not show any type of disease which are currently an issue from eating processed foods. Eating Paleo Diet is, therefore, the best

References Cordion, L. (2010) The Modern Take on the Paleo diet. Vol 33, Issue 1, p7 should-you-eat/pyramid/ should-you-eat/pyramid/ Smith, M. (2009) Better Nutrition: Way to go, Paleo. Vol 71, Issue 10, P