What is the Paleo Diet?
The Paleo Diet
Most nutrition enthusiasts know that cutting grains, dairy, processed foods, sugar, and more out of your diet will, most likely, lead to weight loss. This is the goal of many diets. Would it surprise you if the Paleo Diet claimed to do this too? Or, perhaps you wonder if the Paleo Diet does it in a more, or less, healthy way than other diets? Read on to find out!
The Paleo Diet Menu
Let us begin by describing the diet. First, the Paleo Diet has a rather strict menu; not so much portion control, as much as restricting what you are actually allowed to consume.
The diet is based on the foods that could be hunted, fished, and gathered during the Paleolithic era. We don’t live in the Paleolithic era, so, in case you were wondering what those foods might be, here are some examples:
- grass-produced meat
- fish
- seafood
- eggs
- nuts
- seeds
- vegetables
- fruits
- healthful oils (olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)
*List reproduced from ThePaleoDiet.com
Even with the list above, it is impossible to reproduce a true paleolithic diet. How many times have you gone into the wild to kill and drag home dinner? Or when was the last time you went out to harvest wild growing fruits and vegetables? Today, our meat sources are almost 100% domesticated. Our vegetation is harvested and processed for us.
So, what can you do?
At best, you can eat a modified version of the original diet that is gluten-free and includes a higher than average protein intake from lean meat, organ meats, fish, poultry, and eggs.
Personally, I prefer eating organic plant foods, wild-caught fish, and grass-fed meats. It is just coincidence that these products fit perfectly with the Paleo Diet.
Where is the Controversy?
Nutrition experts. They want diets based on whole foods, lean meats, fruits, vegetables; that also reduces the consumption of sugar, sodium, and processed foods. Sounds good so far. Why aren’t they ardent supporters of the Paleo Diet?
Because the experts usually want to include low-fat dairy, legumes, and whole grains.
A diet that includes whole, unprocessed foods is the basis of almost all healthy diet recommendations, but if you want the modern-day perception of a well-balanced diet, you have to include whole grains, low-fat dairy, and legumes. The Paleo Diet firmly discriminates against these foods.
A Word of Caution
As with almost any diet, the foods not allowed on the menu will prevent you from receiving some specific nutrients that our bodies need to survive. Without salt, you may not receive iodine. Without dairy products, you may not receive your dietary requirement of calcium and vitamin D. You can satisfy almost any dietary requirements without real foods, but this requires careful planning and supplementation.
That said, the Paleo Diet is championed by Loren Cordain, Ph.D., Colorado State University professor and author of The Paleo Diet. He firmly believes that the Paleo Diet is not just healthy, but may also be the answer to many of our nation’s health problems.
Is the Paleo Diet for You?
The Paleo diet has been around (well, I guess it is back) for a few years now, and it is picking up both popularity and support. Is the Paleo Diet the diet/answer you have been waiting for? Are you considering the Paleo Diet? Let us know in the comments below!
Image Credit: Paleo Food