You’ve probably heard of the Paleo Diet, it’s all the rage right now. Even Time magazine ran an article on it. The whole idea is that if you eat like a caveman, you’ll lose weight and be healthier. Who wouldn’t want that? So, is the Paleo Diet for me?
The paleo (Paleolithic) diet, invented by Loren Cordain and further developed by Robb Wolf, is one of the most popular diets today. It is based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early (Paleolithic) humans, consisting chiefly of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit, and excluding dairy, grain products, and processed food.
What It is
The Paleo Diet follows these basic premises:
- Higher protein intake (the protein in a paleo diet is 19-35% of what a person eats)
- Lower carbohydrate intake and lower glycemic index (30-45% of daily calories)
- Higher fiber intake
- Moderate to higher fat intake (dominated by monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats with balanced Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats)
- Higher potassium and lower sodium intake
- Net dietary alkaline load that balances dietary acid
- Higher intake of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and plant phytochemicals
What to Eat
- Grass-produced meats
- Fish/seafood
- Fresh fruits and veggies
- Eggs
- Nuts and seeds
- Healthful oils (Olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)
What Not to Eat
- Cereal grains
- Legumes (including peanuts)
- Dairy
- Refined sugar
- Potatoes
- Processed foods
- Salt
- Refined vegetable oils
Will This Work?
Whether the Paleo Diet will work for you all depends on why you are following it. Are you on the diet simply to lose weight? If so, please realize that diets don’t work because inherent in a weight-loss diet is a start date and a stop date. Once you to back to eating what you ate previously, the weight will return. The Paleo Diet, along with all other successful eating plans, must become a lifestyle in order to maintain weight loss.
What if you’re following the Paleo plan to improve your health? If you look at the What Not to Eat list above, you will notice that the crap food of the Standard American Diet isn’t included. This alone should improve one’s health.
If you have a serious health problem, there are other eating plans (as opposed to diets) like the Traditional Diet (a very good overall eating plan), the Be in Health Eating Plan (a Bible-based eating plan for healing leaky gut, which is the primary cause of most sickness, and identifying food intolerances), GAPS (designed specifically for children with autism and epilepsy, and adults with depression and anxiety symptoms), low FODMAP (for severe digestive issues), gluten-free (for celiac disease and gluten intolerance), etc., to address specific problems.
Pros and Cons
The pros of the Paleo diet are that it focuses on eating real food, not processed food. Foods like wild-caught meat, raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Foods that are not on the paleo diet are anything processed, including grains, legumes (beans and peanuts), raw dairy (such as cultured dairy products like Yogurt, Kefir, and Amasai), salt, and oils. A variation called the neo-paleo diet allows cultured dairy.
The cons are it’s not focused on organic and non-GMO food. Also, people on the Paleo diet tend to eat a lot of pork/bacon as well as shellfish. These animals are common carriers of parasites and are bottom feeders like shellfish and catfish. The problems with pork and shellfish like shrimp are well documented.
Conclusion
After looking at many different types of eating plans, including Paleo, I decided to develop my own, which is called the Be in Health Bible-Based Eating Plan. Following the dietary recommendations of our Creator is important to me, and the Paleo diet does not do that.
Learn more in my new book, Be in Health: Bible-Based Health Restoration: Living in Harmony with God’s Ways Regarding Health. Available now.
Dan Neumann says
Interesting article. We eat a vegan diet, lots of veggies and fruits, whole grains, beans, etc. We like it, but it’s always interesting to see what others think.
carundle says
Yes, there are so many choices out there. We each need to make informed decisions about what’s best for us.
Kayla at Aroga Yoga says
There is so much confusing information out there on the Paleo diet. Thank you for breaking it down so clearly! I’ve been thinking about trying it for ages and this made it an easier decision for me! xx
carundle says
Glad I was able to help, Kayla! What did you decide?
Will Medina says
Interesting! Thanks for sharing- sharing with my paleo friends.
carundle says
Glad you enjoyed it, Will. Thanks for sharing.
Candess M. Campbell says
There are so many choices today. It was helpful to have you clarify what the Paleo diet is. I cringe when I see how much processed food we eat in America. Hope this trend helps change how we eat. There is also a great “farm to table” trend that I love!
carundle says
There are so many choices out there today, I thought it would help people to highlight different plans.
Kristen Wilson says
My answer… and no surprise to you….. NOOOOPPEEEE! My honey decided one day in the middle of the week AFTER I went grocery shopping that he was going to “do paleo”.. well, that kind of killed 75% of our meals, casseroles and such since we don’t eat a lot of veggies, big varieties and are born on meat and potatoes or at least a side.. or casseroles where everything is in one pot, crock or frying pan.. you know, what’s easier for the busy moms… the COOKS of the HOUSE.. so it wasn’t well received and thank goodness, he didn’t stick with it long! It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.
carundle says
Everyone has to decide what’s best for them and making informed decisions is always a good idea.
Alene A Geed says
this was interesting. I had heard of this diet but had no idea what it was. I do agree that eating non processed foods is better. The only thing I would miss if I had to follow this is potatoes. (I LOVE them).
Eating to feel better is the best reason to make some changes!
carundle says
Yes, eating real food is the best. Glad you enjoyed it, Alene.
Tandy Elisala says
This is an thorough and helpful article. Thanks for such detailed information and insights. I have found reducing my intake of all the no-no’s you mention has helped me release weight. I juice and eat more fruits and vegetables. That has helped on many fronts.
carundle says
I’m glad you found it helpful, Tandy. Making even small changes can only benefit us.
Robin says
Good information. I have been hearing tidbits about Paleo, and was fantastic to see so much information in one place. Now to digest:) it all:)
carundle says
Glad you enjoyed it, Robin. Don’t eat it all at once! 😉
Adaire says
Great information, thank you. I have been curious about the finer details of paleo diets for some time and you did clear that up for me. You are right about whatever ‘diet’ is chosen, it’s not a start and end type arrangement. It’s a lifestyle thing. Although my lifestyle thing still includes chocolate occasionally. Cheers, Adaire Palmer
carundle says
Glad you found it helpful, Adaire. I’m not addicted to chocolate anymore, but I still have some occasionally, too.
Jennifer Quisenberry says
Great article! I eat an alkaline diet from my cardiologist that is very similar, but more restrictive than Paleo. I’ve seen a great improvement in my health after switching over. However, when I made the initial switch, my diet included a detox period (nothing fancy, just super clean food) and I felt bad for about two weeks at first. Do you find that with the Paleo diet as well?
carundle says
I’m glad you’re doing better, Jennifer. I don’t follow the Paleo Diet, I follow the Be in Health Diet. When I started, I did a detox program to help clean out by body. It’s a good thing to be feeling better, isn’t it?
Andrea Viernes of LeBrun Advisory Group says
I honestly do not have any idea what a Paleo Diet is and that was the term for this kind of diet! Thanks for sharing this! At least I have gain another knowledge 🙂
carundle says
Glad I could help you understand the Paleo Diet, Andrea.