If you liked mixed things like Labradoodles or puggles (yes, these are dogs) or hybrid cars, you might also like this new diet that seems to be taking the world by storm: the pegan diet. This is actually a mix between the very popular paleo and vegan diets. But aren’t they the complete opposites of each other? Yes, they are, but that’s exactly where the interesting part begins. The paleo diet encourages meat eating while a vegan diet plan refuses this completely. In this article, we will offer you the answer to the question: what is the pegan diet, and we will offer you an introduction into one of the newest diets out there.
Yes, the paleo and the vegan diets might seem complete opposites, but they, in fact, share some common ground. They both encourage people to eat closer to nature, skip processed foods and pre-packaged things. Peganism does exist, and there are more and more people following this diet. It became known back in 2014, when the director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, Mark Hyman, talked about it in a blog post. That started an entire trend, and now, the pegan diet has become a thing. Here’s what you should know!
The Pegan Diet
As with any other diet, the pegan one also has some rules that everyone needs to follow. They are based on the 5-4-3-2-1 principle meaning that you should eat five cups of vegetables and four servings of carbs. Then, you should eat three protein servings, two healthy fats ones and finally, one dairy substitute. You need to follow this plan every day without exception, meaning three meals a day plus two snacks. It’s also important to know that you can have one single “cheat day” with two alcoholic drinks and two desserts per week. You can also eat fish and meat but in small amounts.
However, certain experts don’t see the pegan diet as sustainable in the long run for a lot of people. It takes a lot of time to meal prep, choose only specific, unprocessed foods, and eat exactly what the diet tells you. It can be a bit too strict for most people.
What You Can Eat
This is fairly simple because you are allowed to eat vegetables and fruit. The idea is to have them within or below the 55 to 69 glycemic index range. So, no potatoes, pumpkins or beets. You can also eat protein from chicken, eggs, lean beef and fish as long as it’s grass-fed and free of antibiotics. Then, it’s important to eat whole grains and healthy fats like avocado, nuts, and olive oil. You should avoid legumes, soy, dairy, and sugar by all means!
But will the pegan diet make you lose weight? It’s possible, but it’s not a definite yes or no. It will make you feel full for longer, which might make you lose some weight. The idea here is to eat fewer calories than you burn. Do this, and any diet will work.
Conclusion
So, what did you think about our guide on what is the pegan diet? Are you going to try it now that you know more about it? Do you believe in this combination? Tell us your opinions in the comment section down below!
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