Ancestral-Eastern Nutrition eating template
Derived from 3 eating lifestyles, this is a gentle and easily doable 3-week eating plan to nourish physical and mental energy, boost mood, improve digestion, and counteract all the negative effects of chronic stress.
What is this “Ancestral Lifestyle” that I keep hearing about?
It’s simple. Our ancient ancestors didn’t suffer from chronic conditions and inflammation in the way that we do today, so what can we take from them and apply it to our modern-day lives?
1.) Move. Everyday. Sometimes intensely. Often outdoors.
2.) Eat real and natural food. As close to the source as possible. Local and organic when possible.
3.) Don’t sweat the small stuff. I know, easier said than done. But let us be reminded, they had saber-toothed cats and cave bears to worry about. We have deadlines. Let me repeat: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
4.) Rest.
Eastern Nutrition
There has never been a perfect one-size-fits-all diet. And the ancient medical practitioners of East Asia knew this all too well. To them, and like other ancient medical practitioners from around the world, food is ultimately medicine. It should be nourishing, enjoyed, and give us the energy we need to live meaningful and enriching lives.
Individuals differ in their overall make-up. Which means certain foods suit them better than others, and at various points in their lives. In ancient Chinese Medicine, nutrition was an evolutionary process that changed with the seasons and the state of an individual’s health.
Ancestral
What did our Paleolithic ancestors eat? There are many interpretations of this, and people either love the diet or demonize it. In a nutshell, the modern-day Paleo diet emphasizes more veggies, protein, and healthy fats. Refined carbs and sugar, and heavily processed foods are avoided.
Some people tend to think that the paleo diet is a meat heavy diet. The template for responsible primal eating encourages more healthy and organic vegetables, with an appropriate amount of meat that is sustainable, grass-fed, and responsibly raised. The ratio of meat to veggies, and also carbohydrates, should be adjusted according to body type and activity level.
What to Eat
All the best things.
✔ Organic fruits and veggies
✔ Wild-caught seafood
✔ Grass-fed meat
✔ Pasture raised chicken & eggs
✔ Healthy fats (olive oil, avocado oil, grass-fed butter, ghee, etc.)
✔ Nuts and seeds (in moderation)
What we’re taking a break from
Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
✘ Gluten
✘ Grains (except for coconut white rice)
✘ Dairy
✘ Soy
✘ Beans, peanuts, or edamame
✘ Sugar
✘ Alcohol
Some useful references:
What is an Ancestral Diet, and how does it Help You?
https://chriskresser.com/what-is-an-ancestral-diet-and-how-does-it-help-you/
5 Studies on the Paleo Diet: Does it work?
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/5-studies-on-the-paleo-diet
Chinese Medicine and Nutrition
https://www.pacificcollege.edu/news/blog/2014/05/22/chinese-medicine-and-nutrition
Is the Paleo Diet Meat or Plant-Based?
