The paleo diet has gained popularity in recent years as an eating approach based on the eating patterns of our ancestors (hunter-gatherers). This regimen focuses on whole, unprocessed foods and excludes grains, dairy, and processed foods. By eliminating a wide variety of foods, it can bring multiple benefits to the body, but given the high intensity required in the practice of boxing, is a paleo diet for athletes the best option? We will reveal the answer in this article.
What is the paleo diet?
The paleo diet is based on eating foods that humans may have eaten in the Paleolithic era, a period 10,000 years ago. It is also known by the names Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, and hunter diet, and it’s also given the caveman diet name.
This diet includes all-natural foods, such as lean meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, nuts, or seeds. In this way, processed foods, grains, cereals, pasta, rice, dairy products, and even refined sugars are eliminated since, according to historians and nutrition specialists, these foods were unavailable in prehistoric times. Therefore, they are not suitable for the organism.
What is this diet for?
The paleo diet has been beneficial for people due to its effectiveness in losing weight, improving blood pressure, regulating blood sugar levels, controlling appetite, and reducing cholesterol and triglycerides.
Although combined with training, it prevents the loss of muscle mass, for high-performance sports such as boxing, this type of diet may not be the best option as time goes by since to have high performance in this discipline, It is necessary to follow a diet rich in all food groups, to have all the nutrients that the body requires in each workout.
Disadvantages of the paleo diet
Despite being a trendy diet, many people disagree with this eating method because it completely prohibits the consumption of carbohydrates and legumes, two food groups that provide essential benefits to the body.
Some disadvantages of the paleo diet for athletes are the following:
- Increased cardiac risk due to high protein consumption.
- Greater risk of kidney problems because the kidneys have more work due to excess proteins.
- Excessive exhaustion as a result of the lack of energy produced by the deficit of carbohydrates in the body.
How do boxers benefit from the paleo diet?
- Focus on whole foods: The Paleo diet for athletes promotes the consumption of unprocessed foods, which can help boxers obtain more complete and balanced nutrition rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Weight management and body composition: By focusing on whole foods and eliminating processed foods, the paleo diet can help boxers maintain a healthy body weight and a body composition appropriate for their sport.
- Reduced inflammation: The Paleo diet for athletes can help reduce inflammation by excluding grains and dairy, which is beneficial for overall health.
Important considerations of paleo diet for athletes
- Energy needs: Boxers require a high level of energy for their training and competition. The paleo diet, which excludes grain-based carbohydrates, may not provide enough energy sources to meet these demands. If they wish to do so, boxers would need to adapt the paleo diet to include healthy carbohydrate sources, such as root vegetables and fruits, to meet their energy requirements.
- Personalization: Every person is different, meaning what works for one may not work for another. Boxers must try different dietary approaches and consult with health professionals, such as sports nutritionists, to tailor the paleo diet to their individual needs.
- Hydration and supplementation: Athletes on paleo diet should ensure they maintain adequate hydration and consider supplementation, especially if some nutrients may be limited on the paleo diet, such as calcium or vitamin D from dairy.
Full Summary
Although a paleo diet for athletes may have potential benefits for boxers, strictly following it is not widely recommended. These athletes need to eat a balanced diet from all food groups to obtain sufficient energy and essential nutrients and maintain a balanced approach to their feeding. If you have doubts about this or want to implement the paleolithic diet into your routine, it is best to go to a nutritionist who will help you adapt it according to your specific needs.
