The mentality behind the Paleo diet is, “If our hunter-gatherer ancestors didn’t eat it, we don’t need to.” Hunter-gatherers didn’t have access to refined grains, processed foods, dairy, potatoes, salt, and refined vegetable oils (1). Say good bye to wheat, and legumes as well. If you go Paleo, you’ll eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and you can eat eggs, nuts and oils such as olive and coconut oil. Meat provided a large fraction of the day’s food for our ancestors, they consumed high levels of cholesterol. However, they ate less fat but consumed more essential fatty acids and a higher ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fats than today’s current U.S. diet (1). Studies have shown that the Paleo diet can improve blood pressure, increase insulin sensitivity, and improve lipid profiles. Another study showed that the Paleo diet reduced the glucose levels of the participants by 36% (2). The Paleo diet can be more costly since the meat and produce are the more expensive foods to buy (2).
References
1. Eaton BS, Konner M. Paleolithic Nutrition: A consideration of Its Nature. The New England Journal of Medicine. 1985; 312(5): 283-289.
2. Frassetto LA, Schloetter M, Mietus-Synder M, Morris RC Jr, and Sebastian A. Metabolic and Physiologic Improvements From Consuming a Paleolithic, Hunter-Gatherer Type Diet. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009; 63: 947-955.
