There are multiple reasons why one would want to gain weight, but this is not always easily possible. Contrary to popular misconceptions, while eating an excessive amount of junk food does make you gain weight, it isn’t the kind anybody wants to.

If you are keen on gaining some weight, whether to be more athletic, or to combat diseases such as anorexia, hyperthyroidism, type 1 diabetes, or cancer that is preventing you from gaining weight, a paleo diet will work wonders for you. It is advisable to consult your doctor before opting for a particular diet plan as they will be able to tell you if that is the right step considering your medical history. Once you are set on that front, here are 5 tips that are centered around the paleo diet, for gaining weight.

Keep in mind that it is not how much carbohydrate or protein you eat that is important. It is how many calories your body is absorbing that makes all the difference. Hence, if you have problems with your liver or intestines for example, then nutrient absorption becomes difficult and this will make gaining weight a challenge. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, celiac disease, a leaky gut, are all some of the reasons why your body might not be absorbing nutrients.

• Before trying to include saturated fats to your diet to gain weight, first exclude all the foods that prevent nutrient absorption. This comprises grains and legumes that contain anti-nutrients like phytic acid.
• Eat when you are hungry, not just because you have a set schedule and want to tick a chore off your to-do list, or because the clock says it is time for lunch or dinner, or because you are bored. And, eat healthy fats when you are hungry. This will ensure that while you enjoy all the health benefits of fatty foods, you will feel satisfied sooner because fats are calorie-dense. Include avocados, mangoes, walnuts, macadamia nuts, coconut oil, and butter, but be careful about the nuts. Enjoy them in controlled portions since they also contain phytic acid and omega-6 fatty acids that can cause inflammation in excess amounts.
• Do not shy away from healthy carbohydrates. They help in sustained weight gain, and more importantly, keep your immune system strong. The paleo diet offers roots, tubers, and fruits such as yams, sweet potatoes, beets, plantains, and bananas that are high in calories. The consumption of essential protein, which is one of the tips for following a paleo diet, is sourced from grass-fed, and free-range red meat, fish, seafood, lamb, eggs, and poultry.
• Use macadamia nut oil, coconut oil, butter, or ghee that are part of this diet for preparing foods because these add good calories. Fatty fish provide healthy fats too. Besides, they also deliver micronutrients like phosphorus, potassium, copper, and selenium, apart from healthy omega-3 fats that help you gain muscle.
• The varieties of fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, oils, herbs, spices, meats, poultry, and fish that form part of a paleo diet meet multiple needs at the same time. There are some nutrient-dense and calorie-dense options for you to pick from. You can mix and match these to create various recipes that will tempt you to not skip any meal.

Gaining weight is easy, but acquiring it the healthy way takes a lot of time. So be patient with your diet and give it a few months to work on you. You will surely achieve your goal of a well-nourished body, so don’t think twice about following the tips related to a paleo diet for weight gain.