Why are Athletes switching to the caveman diet in droves? There was a time when the majority of professional, elite, and Olympic-level athletes swore by a diet that included a high intake of carbohydrates. For those involved in endurance sports, the practice of carbohydrate loading during the days leading up to competition was believed to be a necessary element to achieve optimal performance. With that being said, many athletes, particularly those at the Olympic and professional levels are ditching their traditional carbohydrate-heavy eating habits for the Caveman Diet.
Before you dismiss the Caveman Diet, which is also known as the Paleo Diet, as being another fad eating plan that will fade away in a few years, you may just want to consider the reasoning behind the dietary change for many of these athletes. In fact, scientific and nutritionist research has found that the Paleo Diet is actually far healthier than what some consider a traditional diet. Studies have shown that the Paleo Diet may significantly decrease the risk of diet-based conditions and diseases, such as Diabetes and Heart Disease. Furthermore, many athletes are finding that, by following this diet, they are recovering faster, and demonstrating greater endurance and strength during both training and competition.
How Does the Caveman Diet Benefits Athletes?
It is often asked how this Paleo Diet, which essentially mimics the diet of those that lived as far back as 2.5 million years ago, can possibly be beneficial to modern-day athletes. While there is certainly justification in debating that question, the truth is that the Paleo Diet not only benefits athletes throughout the training and competition process, but it also improves their health in the long term. The benefits have been highlighted through the research of Dr. Loren Cordain, and elite trainer Joe Friel. According to Cordain and Friel, the Caveman Diet increases muscle development, reduces soreness, and speeds up the healing process following workouts. Because the diet is very high in nutrients, it also provides for an optimal long-term recovery from both traditional workouts, and also injury.
Is The Caveman Diet Recommended for All Athletes?
With Olympic-level athletes such as swimmer Amanda Beard making the switch to the Caveman Diet, some have questioned if the diet is also recommended for athletes at far lower levels of competition. The answer is that the Caveman Diet is absolutely recommended for all athletes, though it may vary depending on the type of sport in which the athlete competes. Regardless of the level of competition, athletes that wish to follow the Caveman Diet should remove processed foods from their diet. This is because the body finds natural foods to be much easier to digest than processed foods. The intake of grains, such as wheat and rice, should also be moderately reduced in favor of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Finally, lean meats and fish should be included in every meal in order to increase the body's intake of lean proteins, omega-3s, and healthy fats. By making such dietary changes, athletes at all levels and abilities will see an improvement in their performance, and more importantly, will feel an improvement in their overall health and well-being. The basis of the Cave man Diet may go back millions of years, but more and more of today's top athletes are now following its recommended eating habits, as they've come to realize just how much it can improve their performance.
