Paleo Diet: Pros and Cons

What is Paleo diet?

Paleo or caveman diet is a kind of diet program that the main idea of the program is eating like caveman. That’s why this kind of diet program called as caveman diet because of the treatment and the method of the diet program that similar with caveman eating habit. The main idea of Caveman diet is basically a high-protein, high-fiber eating plan that promises you can lose weight without cutting calories. Loren Cordain, PhD, the writer of book The Paleo Diet, claims that by eating like our prehistoric ancestors, we’ll be leaner and less likely to get diabetes,heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. So, what the exact idea of this program is travelling back to our ancestors did on eating habit. Cavemen or Paleolithic people eating habit are based on their way in hunting and gathering food from nature which will mostly be meat, vegetables, fruits, and everything from nature. This kind of habit that Cordain would like to adopt to his diet program that will suit to nowadays condition.

What are you going to do to succeed in Paleo diet?

So, after considering the idea of Paleo diet above, what next will you do to succeed the program? The idea of Paleo to adopt our ancestor eating habit means that you will considerably be aware to some food that you should add and eat in your daily eating menu and what you should avoid and prevent from your daily eating menu. Here I give you a list of some food that you should add and avoid on your eating menu.

Do Eat:

• unprocessed, nutrient-dense, nourishing foods
• grass fed and pastured meats and eggs
• wild-caught seafood not canned fish
• vegetables
• fruit
• nuts and seeds
• Healthier oils, including olive oil and coconut oil

Don't Eat:

• Wheat and dairy, along with other grains and legumes (such as peanuts and beans)
• Refined sugar
• Potatoes
• Salt
• Refined vegetable oils, such as canola
• Toxic and pro-inflammatory foods like gluten-containing grains, legumes, sugar, and the laboratory-concocted
• Fast/junk food
• Canned food

Why should you consider Paleo diet?

This might be the most important part you want to consider. The most frequently asked by people in around the world about every kind of diet programs is WHY? Why should I do the program? What is the reason I should follow the diet program? How can the program help me lose weight? Is it the best diet program, why? So, what question you will choose?

Anything you pick from the questions above, the main point is the same. Why should I do the diet program? Well, there are some interesting facts about Paleo diet that I have chosen and adopt from several sources. Firstly, lean proteins sourced from meat and eggs will support strong muscles, healthy bones and optimal immune function. Protein also makes you feel satisfied between meals. Secondly, Fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that have been shown to decrease the likelihood of developing a number of degenerative diseases including cancer, diabetes and neurological decline. Thirdly, Healthy fats from nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, fish oil and grass-fed meat will help you kill disease. Even though it seems to be such a personal opinion but, Scientific research and epidemiological studies show that diets rich in Monounsaturated and Omega-3 fats dramatically reduce the instances of obesity, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and cognitive decline.

Pros and Cons

I review from several websites about paleo diet pros and cons and here they are:

Benefits

• You will eat a clean diet without additives, preservatives, or chemicals.
• You do get the anti-inflammatory benefit from the plant nutrients in fruits, vegetables, oils, nuts, and seeds.
• You will be eating more iron through increased red meat intake.
• You will have improved satiety — a feeling of fullness between meals, due to the higher intake of protein and fats.
• Most people will lose weight primarily due to the limited food choices.

 Risks/Disadvantages

• This eating plan can be very pricey.
• You don’t eat any grains, whole or otherwise, which are good for health and energy.
• Consuming no dairy foods is not great for your bones.
• If you take away foods and nutrients and don’t find suitable replacements, you can create a nutrient imbalance.
• This diet can be really hard for vegetarians, especially since the diet excludes beans.
• Most athletes need between 3 to 6 grams of carbs per pound of their body weight, per day.
• This would be very hard to do with just fruits and vegetables.

 More Reading and References:

http://www.upmc.com/services/sports-medicine/newsletter/pages/paleo-diet.aspx

http://www.webmd.com/diet/paleo-diet

https://www.acefitness.org/acefit/healthy-living-article/60/3561/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-paleo-diet/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/201708-what-are-the-pros-cons-of-the-paleo-diet/