Is the Paleo Diet Right For You?

Debi Silber, The Mojo Coach on 01/30/2013

Have you heard of the Paleo diet? It seems like a new diet craze pops up every few years, so how are you supposed to know if this one is right for you? We'll give you the skinny on the Paleolithic diet: what you can eat, what you can't, the pros, and the cons, so you can determine if this diet suits your healthy lifestyle and is worth trying. What is the Paleo Diet? This diet mimics the daily food intake of men and women during the Paleolithic era (or Stone Age). According to Dr. Loren Cordain, founder of the diet, cavemen were free from diseases that plague Westerners today, due to their intake of simple, unprocessed, whole foods; by changing our eating habits, we too, can repel illness, inflammation, and sluggishness—all while getting svelte in the process! What Can I Eat on the Paleo Diet?

Meat
Fish
Poultry
Eggs
Fruits
Vegetables
Nuts
Seeds
Coconut

* All animal products should be pasture-fed, free-range, and raised in a humane sustainable environment. What Foods are Forbidden on the Paleo Diet?

Refined sugars
Dairy products, like milk, yogurt, butter and cheese (except certain raw varieties depending on the level of Paleo you choose)
Cereal grain,s like barley, wheat, corn, oats, and rice
Legumes, like beans, lentils, peas, peanuts, soybeans, and soy products
Starchy vegetables, like potatoes, potato products, sweet potatoes, yams, and yucca
Cured meats, including deli meats and bacon
Pickled foods
Condiments
Any packaged and processed food

The Pros of the Paleo Diet - Following a primitive diet may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, help with weight loss, reduce acne, and promote good health. - Eating organic plant foods, wild-caught fish, and grass-fed meats are the most nutritious varieties of animal protein and the least impacted by herbicides, pesticides, and hormones. - Legumes, grains, and other starches (potatoes and yams) contain high levels of antinutrients that may block digestion, cause inflammation and, in some cases, lie at the root of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Eliminating these antinutrients is beneficial for digestion and total health. - Diets low in refined carbohydrates are typically higher in fat and protein and loaded with fiber-filled vegetables, which keep you full longer because fat and protein are more filling than low-fat grain. This means that on this diet you will be less hungry between meals and less likely to snack on empty calories. - With a lower carb intake, the body uses fat stores to break down for fuel, which means you burn fat on this diet. - Energy and mood swings caused by a diet high in processed carbs and sugars are avoided on the Paleo diet. Meats, vegetables and fruits, which digest more slowly than refined carbs, keep energy and blood sugar levels stable throughout the day. The Cons of the Paleo Diet - We’ve grown used to a diet including whole grains, dairy and legumes. These foods can be very inexpensive, widely available and extremely portable unlike the foods on the Paleo diet. - The Paleo diet is difficult to follow without careful planning. Wild game is not readily available, most plant food sources are cultivated, not wild, and most meats found in local supermarkets are domesticated, not free-range - Those unwilling or unable to add significantly more vegetables into their diets may rely heavily on protein and fat, missing the ability to get enough fiber and other important nutrients in their daily eats. - Grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and eggs, and organic produce can be more expensive than the commercially farmed varieties. - Eating on the go becomes challenging without planning. Many of the prepared, portable snack/takeaway foods you find in a regular supermarket are processed and/or contain grains If you do decide to try the Paleo diet, keep this in mind: we each have a different genetic makeup and metabolism, and each respond in a unique way to the foods we eat. What works for some may not work for all. When embarking on any new diet, first get the information you need to make an educated choice. After that, trust what your body is telling you and respond/adjust accordingly to create your best body and health.

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Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
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