Jeb Bush recently lost 40 pounds in six months on a low-carb, gluten-free Paleo diet and maintains his weight loss with occasional cheat treats.
Jeb, 62, sticks to his Paleo diet most of the time, but regularly allows himself to “cheat” with his favorite snacks.
In Jeb’s case, those cravings include peanut M&Ms and fried Snickers, which he sometimes snacks on in the evenings after a long day of campaigning, ABC News reported.
Jeb began following the Paleo diet at the suggestion of his son, George P. Bush. Jeb was so thrilled with his weight loss he encouraged his other son, Jeb Bush Jr., to go Paleo, Examiner reported.
Jeb, a former couch potato, also started exercising. The 6-foot-4 Bush now looks a lot leaner and his former beer belly is now flat.
The Paleo diet is the most popular diet around today, and has a huge celebrity following, including singer Sam Smith and Tim McGraw, who lost 40 pounds with the low-carb Paleo diet and CrossFit workouts.
The Paleo diet is an alcohol-free eating plan that emphasizes high-quality animal proteins, healthy fats, non-starchy vegetables, and excludes gluten, sugar, dairy, legumes, and processed foods.
Research suggests the Paleo diet accelerates weight loss, reduces blood pressure, and prevents cancer, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and even Alzheimer’s.
Loren Cordain, a professor emeritus at Colorado State University is pleased Jeb Bush has hopped on the Paleo bandwagon. “Paleo is all about health and well-being,” said Cordain, author of The Real Paleo Diet Cookbook.
A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates the Paleo diet is twice as effective as other diets for promoting weight loss and reducing belly fat.
“Clinical trials have shown the Paleo diet is the optimum diet that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, markers of inflammation, help with weight loss, reduce acne, promote optimum health and athletic performance,” said professor Loren Cordain, author of The Paleo Diet for Athletes and The Paleo Diet Cookbook.
Former biochemist Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Solution, said Paleo isn’t a fad diet because it doesn’t emphasize calorie restriction but instead focuses on a healthy balance of protein, vegetables and high-quality fats.