What are the Pros and Cons of a Paleo Diet?

Paleo Diet Overview

Following the diet of our hunter and gather ancestors during the Paleolithic Era until 10,000 years ago, you can improve your diet, detox your body, and lose weight. Here are specifics of this popular diet, including pros and cons, to help you see if you should be eating what your ancestors did!

Paleo Diet Details

• A healthy diet that is full of nutrients comes in the form of whole, organic foods – which many of the foods sold in grocery stores are not.
• Before our ancestors began to farm, from 2 million to 10,000 years ago, they foraged all their food and ate whatever they had the means to spear, capture, and cook.
• A book launched the craze. The New Evolution Diet was written by Art De Vany, and its teachings about diet and fitness were then popularized by Rob Wolf, who was formerly vegan and, although thin, couldn’t lift his own weight. Now that he has switched to a Paleo diet, he promotes it as a way of eating that enables people to be healthy and strong.
• The Paleo diet, otherwise known as the caveman diet and Stone Age diet, consists of anything that was found two million years ago – meat, seafood, berries, nuts, seeds, water, and vegetables.
• Off-limits items on the Paleo diet include anything processed like bread, crackers, chips, and cookies; pastries like cake; foods that contain salt; whole grains; and all dairy.
• Great protein sources you can eat on a Paleo diet include grass-fed beef, bison, deer, moose,  chicken, wild turkey, salmon, cod, halibut, tuna, and free-range organic eggs.
• Vegetables are allowed as well – lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli, cucumber, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.
• Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, bananas, apples, avocado, oranges, kiwi, grapes, coconut, mango, lime, and lemons are allowed
• Much of the flavor in Paleo recipes comes from seeds, mushrooms, nuts, spices, and herbs.

Benefits & Drawbacks of the Paleo Diet

Benefits:

• The Paleo diet doesn’t allow for any added sugar, sodium, or dairy, but those restrictions allow for successful weight loss once you get used to (and stick with) the plan.
• Eating whole foods will be released slowly in your bloodstream, which gives you steady energy throughout your day.
• A Paleo diet is full of protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, which will allow you to feel full for a longer period of time. It aids in digestion and helps you to lose weight more quickly than your regular diet ever could.

Drawbacks:

• Studies show difficulty in beginners to get rid of sugar, dairy, and fatty meats going “cold turkey” – a very appropriate term, in this case!
• Athletes burn off more energy than our ancestors did. Scientists doubt that the Paleo diet can fulfill an active person’s nutritional requirements.
• Buying free-range eggs, grass-fed chicken, and organic fruits and vegetables can cost twice as much as other foods; therefore, the diet can get quite expensive over time.
• Unprocessed foods such as whole foods aren’t always available when you need them. Processed foods are cheaper and more convenient to purchase and prepare than fresh vegetables and raw meats.
• You need calcium for strong bones, and a caveman diet doesn’t allow you to have dairy, a common calcium-rich dietary staple. The diet can often be too restricting for an active lifestyle/overall health.

Final Thoughts

The Paleo Diet can give you a healthy start to your healthy lifestyle. The foods it includes are full of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will help you feel better long-term. As with any diet, it requires patience to adapt to the new food options, and there will be a learning curve in making it work best for your lifestyle in a way that you can sustain. If you choose to adopt a paleo lifestyle, use organically grown foods and grass-fed meats. A good vegetable you can introduce is the dark leafy green kale. Learn more about the benefits of kale.

To Your Health!