Planning on changing your diet? You might be surely considering many of the new fad diets that make big claims. Knowing the truth, however, is important before actually jumping to a new eating regime. Paleo Diet is fast gaining popularity among those who believe that human bodies are not made for modern-day food. The concept says that this diet was consumed in the Stone Age and that is what is best suited for human body requirements. Besides, there are many other beliefs associated with it. Before adopting it, know the truth about this specially tailored diet that finds roots in the Paleolithic Age. Moreover, understand what this diet means, how it becomes typical of a region, and what it is supposed to achieve.
Understanding the Word ‘Diet’
A diet is what a human being consumes in the form of food and drinks. Diets vary depending on the region, religion, beliefs and many other factors, and accordingly have some typical flavors and cooking styles associated with them. It is not fair to debate about which diet is better because all of them cater to different requirements. With globalization, however, the scenario is fast changing. Cuisines are no more restricted to a particular area or race. Italian and Chinese dishes are as popular in America as they are in their native regions. Such developments have definitely given a lot to the world culture, but there are some cons as well.
The number of patients suffering from heart problems, diabetes, obesity, and other medical problems has risen drastically. This is the reason more and more people are switching to assumingly healthier diets. Some diets claim to be healthy, some claim to take you closer to the nature, some claim to help you live longer and disease free, and some claim that it is the best weight loss diet.
The Idea Behind Paleolithic Diet
Caveman diet advocates that humans are best adapted for the food they ate in the Paleolithic age. Followers believe that modern food products, such as dairy products, grains, processed food and oils, put them to a greater risk to diseases like obesity, cancer, diabetes, and heart problems. The diet suggests that the perfect diet should consist of what Stone Age men ate, such as fruits and berries, meat, and vegetables. To make it a little more sustainable in the modern times, include a small percentage of dairy products, cereals, salt, and honey. With these inclusions, the diet remains quite strict and difficult to follow according to eating habits of the current age.
Benefits of Paleo Diet
If we look at it nutrition wise and compare with regular modern diets, such a diet structure offers more proteins, fat, micronutrients and fiber, and less of carbohydrates, salt, vitamins and minerals. The most apparent benefits of this diet, only if you can pull it off, include better growth and controlled blood pressure, sugar problems, and obesity control. Even though the diet is not aimed at it, it does help weight loss and control.
Criticism about Paleo Diet
The hunter gatherer diet has attracted a lot of criticism from nutritionists, paleontologists and evolutionary medicine researchers, among other communities. Meat and fish are an important part of the diet, but today’s domesticated animals greatly vary from the Stone Age. Similarly, vegetables like broccoli and cabbage were not cultivated at that time. Some of the natural veggies and plants, found in the wild, are not safe for consuming anymore. All these differences in the two ages have also translated in different needs and eating habits. Keeping the diet the same as the cavemen diet, therefore, is logically not a wise idea.
Additionally, since there are no spices and salt in the diet, it becomes difficult to sustain it in the long run. Further, the diet falls short of meeting minimum nutritional requirements on some aspects like carbohydrates and important minerals like calcium.
How to Make It Sustainable?
If you want to follow the Paleolithic diet and reap its benefits, it is important to alter it and make it comfortably sustainable. Nutritionists advise to add dairy products, grains, legumes, slight oil, and sugar in the diet to make it balanced. Mild spices like pepper can also be used to enhance the taste of the food.
If you are serious about adopting the Paleo diet, get a carefully charted eating plan from an expert who can take care of the sustainability part of it too, taking into consideration unusual medical conditions, if any. They will help you strike a balance between foods from the primitive age and modern eatables that will take care of body’s nutritional requirements. Moreover, before making the final call, meet a few people who have already exercised the diet. They will be able to give a clearer picture of what all problems and complications can arise with such a diet.
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