Paleo, also known as Primal, Caveman, and Stone Age diet draws its core principles from our hunter-gatherer, ancestral lifestyle and combines those with modern scientific research and a good dose of common sense. The Paleo diet has gained a huge following lately and as a result, it is often scrutinized, misrepresented, and often misunderstood. The thing about Pales is that it’s not really a new diet. The lifestyle – yes it’s much more than a diet – has been around for many years. The movement had a niche following until a couple of books- the Paleo Solution by biochemist Robb Wolf and The Primal Blueprint by former athlete Mark Sisson- hit the best sellers list and spread the Paleo message into the mainstream.
What is Paleo Diet?
The Paleo diet is the healthiest way you can eat because it is the ONLY nutritional approach that works with your genetics to help you stay lean, strong and energetic! Research in biology, biochemistry, Ophthalmology, Dermatology and many other disciplines indicate it is our modern diet, full of refined foods, trans fats, and sugar, that is at the root of degenerative diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, depression and infertility.
~Health Benefits of Paleo Diet~
For most people, the fact the Paleo diet delivers the best results is all they need. Improved blood lipids, weight loss, and reduced pain from autoimmunity is proof enough. Many people, however, are not satisfied with blindly following any recommendations, be they nutrition or exercise related. Some folks like to know WHY they are doing something. Fortunately, the Paleo diet has stood not only the test of time but also the rigors of scientific scrutiny.
With a very simple shift, we not only remove the foods that are at odds with our health (grains, legumes, and dairy) but we also increase our intake of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
~Pros and Cons of Paleo diet~
Pros:
1. If you need to be allergic, the Paleo diet may be worth a try, as it is dairy, gluten, soy, and corn free.
2. You’ll increase your intake of vitamin B12, which is found in many animal-based foods and is essential for deriving energy from the food which you eat.
3. You’ll avoid alcohol, which is empty calories in your diet.
4. You may feel fuller and more satisfied between meals, due to eating more protein and fat.
5. If you tend to be anemic, the red meat on the Paleo diet’s menu can provide your body with the iron it needs to manufacture red blood cells.
6. The Paleo diet has you avoid processed foods – which are a good thing. These tend to have unhealthy added chemicals to boost flavor and increase shelf-life (preservatives). Heavily processed foods often have high amounts of added salt and sugar as well, both of which are best avoided.
7. It provides a healthy ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 fats, which is linked to major health benefits. Chief among these is reducing systemic inflammation, which can contribute to disease processes in your body.
8. You may lose weight, with many people undergoing amazing transformations when following this diet.
Cons:
1. Without dairy products, you must be knowledgeable enough to find alternate sources of high-quality calcium.
2. If you do not get adequate amounts of calcium in your diet, your bone health and blood vessel and muscle function could suffer.
3. You’ll spend a lot more time preparing food, as most ready-to-eat food options aren’t allowed on the diet. Be ready to cook meat on a regular basis and to be more organized about your meals and snacks in general. Why? You can’t just visit the nearest vending machine when you’re feeling hungry.
4. It can be expensive to follow, as the Paleo diet requires you to eat a great deal of meat and nuts – both of which typically cost much more than staple foods like grains and beans.
5. Without complex carbohydrates, in your diet, you may feel sluggish, as these provide long-lasting energy.
6. The Paleo diet is difficult to follow for vegetarians, especially since you can’t eat beans – making sourcing whole protein from vegetables near impossible.
~Problems with Paleo diet~
Not only do some foods allowed on the Paleo diet contain phytic acid, many experts say that the “anti-nutrient” content in many disallowed foods is dramatically lessened when these are cooked. Also, some of these compounds actually have health benefits, like providing antioxidant or cancer preventing action in the body.
SOURCES:
http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/what-is-paleo/
http://elevate.com.au/paleo-diet-pros-cons-eating-like-caveman/
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