Sugar-free/ wheat-free / paleo part time - any point?

[cheeseismydownfall]

I've been seeing quite a few posts from people who have seen huge benefits from cutting these things from their diets, and I can see the logic to it. I'm not looking to loose weight, but would love to improve (slightly dodgy) skin, increase energy and improve all over health.

Thing is, I can't see how I could realistically keep it up long term. I love both food and cooking and sharing suppers with friends. Would there be any benefit do you think in following a paleo type diet for 5 days a week, and then relaxing things at the weekend? Or is it a case that you have to get these things out of your system permanently to see the benefits?

Any thoughts or experiences from people who are knowledgeable about this stuff or have tried similar diets would be much appreciated, thank you!

Hi I have followwd it like this before and noticed a big improvement. Some experts say to follow it 80%of the time.

So there are positive things you do more of to improve your health and negative things you should do less of.
Eat more nutritious food, feed your cells with natural unprocessed food as much as possible.
Eat less processed junk, alcohol, sugar, trans fats etc.
Move more
Do more of the good things and less of the bad things and your body will thank you - don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

I think it's absolutely fine.
I am not 100% paleo but I make a conscious effort to avoid carbs ( don't buy /eat any processed food anyway) and my 'allowance' in a day might be 1 or 2 slices of gluten free bread, or some porridge, or oat cakes, (I'm gluten intolerant anyway and have been for 20 years) but if I have the bread I won't have rice or pasta or potatoes that day. I rarely eat pasta or rice now at all - most meals are fish and veg or lean meat and veg.

I try and do it 80% and think it def has benefits still - I call it paleo-ish. There are foods that aren't too bad but wouldn't form part of an avid paleo diet (as I understand it) like rice and potatoes so I try and choose those if cooking for friends or eating out. I think my skin is happiest when all dairy is cut out.

I've been doing low carb for a year now and never longer than a week..I usually have Friday plus sat and sun off as we spend the weekends at in-laws or out and I don't want to make it difficult for people. Its worked in that I've lost all my baby weight plus a little more (still tubbier than 20s weight thoigh)

Personally, I think you see most health benefits by cutting out booze entirely, not eating processed food as much as possible, having at least 7 fruit and veg a day, and just trying to eat a good variety of foods.

And going out an exercising in the open air - that makes me feel amazing

if you are gluten or wheat intolerant then yes, cut it out. Otherwise you risk losing useful nutrition.

those on restricted diets have to work hard to make up what is missing.

bad news - veg contains complex carbohydrate....