If you have ever looked at the paleo diet, then you’ll know it’s a really hard one to master. This is basically the same diet as cavemen had, that is, whole foods that can be found in nature. Fruits, vegetables and organic meats are the order of the day on the paleo diet.
However, if you are a fan of black beans and want to go on the paleo diet, then you might have to say goodbye to one of your favorite foods. Paleo is very adamant about not having grains, as the experts on this diet claim that it contains lectins that actually damage the gut lining and promote certain auto-immune diseases.
We’ll be taking a deep dive into why black beans should be avoided on this paleo diet, giving you a complete nutritional profile of the rare bean. We’ll also give you some delicious alternatives to black beans, so you won’t miss this food so much when you take on a paleo diet.
So why should you avoid black beans on the paleo diet? What do they contain that makes them harmful to the human digestive system? What alternatives are there to black beans for people on paleo? What other foods are a strict no-no for paleo lovers? How will it affect your health once you adopt this diet?
Well, if you want answers to all of your paleo-related questions and then some, we would recommend that you keep reading this article. We’ll cover the black bean in-depth so that you know exactly why you’re avoiding it and whether it is worth the sacrifice for the caveman diet.
Are Black Beans Paleo?
The short answer to this is: no. This is because a black bean is a grain, and the paleo diet strictly rules out grain, as these contain lectins that can be said to damage the stomach lining. These le
ctins are also seen to severely inhibit your auto-immune system, giving rise to many diseases and some say prolonged tiredness and sickness.
Various writers on the paleo diet have claimed that grains also cause inflammation of the stomach and lead to various gluten intolerances. This can cause you illness over time, as your body will have an overall lowered immune system.
If you do have a natural aversion to gluten, then cutting out grains such as black beans will be a really good method of settling the stomach. There are plenty of testimonies from people who have claimed to experience a radical change in their mood and immune system once they have taken all grains from their diet.
What Is The Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet is going back to a certain way of living that was established in the paleolithic era, basically, it’s eating as cavemen do! The theory behind this is that our evolutionary biology hasn’t changed that much in a few million years, which is why it’s important to keep the same diet as our ancestors.
There is some dispute as to whether this diet really affects our health and there are some experts that claim that our diet has changed over the years and that eating a paleolithic diet might negatively affect the changes in our biology.
However, some people attest that this diet really works. It has been shown to reduce the amount of anti-inflammation in the stomach, which is shown as being the cause of a lot of chronic illnesses such as ME and fibromyalgia.
What Else Is Off The Table For Paleo?
People on the paleo diet avoid food that is overly processed, so you should make sure that you are going to the organic market every day. You will want to avoid the supermarket shelves, although you might find that your weekly shopping bill goes up.
Bread and other forms of starchy products are also off the table, as these contain grains and are seen as being really bad for digestion. You’ll also want to avoid dairy products that contain hormones and preservatives, although you can drink whole organic milk and cheese from a farmer’s market.
What Foods Can You Switch Black Beans For?
You could swap out your black beans for nuts, as these are both a great source of fiber and have plenty of pulses that contribute to brain health. Cashews and walnuts are also very good for your joints, giving you everything that you need for a well-lubricated muscle.
We would also recommend that you add cheese instead of black beans, as this will give a lot of heart to a burrito or Mexican salad. Black beans are what is known as a filler food and they are known to be present in a lot of sandwiches and burritos.
You can also bulk up on fresh chicken instead of black beans if you are a meat-eater.
How Will The Paleo Diet Affect You?
This has been shown to improve your digestion, which in turn affects your immune system. If your stomach is overloaded with grains and heavy starch, then your body will devote a lot of energy to breaking that down instead of improving your immune response in other areas of the body.
Paleo has also been claimed to help people with bowel disorders such as IBS. This is because the body is only having to process natural ingredients and does not have to deal with the natural inflammation that comes with grains.
Our Final Say
We hope that all the info we’ve given you on grains has helped you to decide whether or not it is worth giving them up to go on a strict paleo diet.
