Is Paleo Good for You? The lowdown.

Is paleo good for you? Today, we’re venturing back in time to an age of basic needs, striking starry nights and (probably) bad hair days… That’s right, next up on our MPW low down on eating options is the Paleo Diet.

Paleo is short for Paleolithic, referring to the era in our planet’s history that occurred approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, when our early ancestors first began using stone tools and culture revolved around hunting and gathering. So all the foods in the Paleo diet — lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds — are foods we assume our ancient predecessors would have foraged in the wild, before farming became such a big part of our lives.

You may have also heard this eating plan referred to as the Caveman Diet, or the Stone Age Diet.

But before you start channeling your best Wilma Flintstone, let’s make sure you have all the information you need to understand why this diet is so popular — both on a physical and mental level — and what it means for your kitchen cabinets.

Read on to become a Paleo Powerhouse.

This way of eating may be trendy, but it’s actually a retro revival. The paleo diet was first introduced in 1975 by gastroenterologist Walter L. Voegtlin and then expanded on in the 1980s by Dr. S. Boyd Eaton, a professor of anthropology at Emory University who “believed that such a diet is what the human body — both then and now — was built to eat.” He believed that the reason we experience so many chronic illnesses and modern diseases was due to our contemporary eating habits, an idea known as the discordance hypothesis. By looking to the past, perhaps we could find answers to today’s health problems.

This may also be why, when Loren Cordain’s 2002 book The Paleo Diet was published, people really jumped on board en masse. In the emerging culture of the Internet and social media, people were hungry (pun intended) for a connection to where we came from and open to new ideas. (It didn’t hurt that with the brand new Internet you could spread the word at lightning speed!)

Now the $64 million question: Does it work?

If you’re looking to lose weight, have Type 2 diabetes, need/want to avoid dairy for health or personal reasons, or you want more structure in your meal planning, the Paleo diet might be the right fit for you!

It has been shown that a “Paleolithic diet improved glycemic control and several cardiovascular risk factors compared to a diabetes diet”. Be sure to consult with your doctor before you try out this, or any, new eating plan, as “eating low-carb means you’ll require less medication, and your dosage may need to be altered to prevent low blood sugar.” And in some studies, going Paleo has been shown to improve blood pressure, but the biggest benefit of this diet is weight loss.

Even without the science, if you look at the basic numbers of the diet, you can see how it adds up to a slimmer waistline and reading on the scale. By eliminating processed foods, refined sugar, simple carbs and dairy products, you cut a significant number of calories from your pantry. But by focusing on dishes that are high in protein, low in carbs, and rich with fiber, you’re still eating foods that will help you feel full and keep your body healthy.  

Bit by bit

No bones about it though, saying goodbye to your best pal pizza will be tough, but, like with the other eating plans we’ve already discussed, you can take a small time-out from your food favorites to see it this type of diet is right for you. You may discover that (gasp!) your cravings disappear over time. And if you’re ride or die cheese, you can always dip your toes into the shallow end of the Paleo pool by incorporating Paleo dishes into your current diet a few times a week or a few full days each week.

The best part about Paleo is that you don’t have to count calories or spent too much time portioning out your food. So you’ll just be creating sensibly-sized meals based around the foods that our hunter-gatherer friends would have enjoyed, and there is something quite nice about that connection to our history through this universal need.

Sorry, but these foods weren’t in the Stone Age supermarket:

• All grains
• Legumes (peanuts, beans, lentils) Here’s why!
• Dairy
• Coffee (I miss you already…)
• Alcohol
• Refined sugar
• Starchy vegetables like potatoes, but sweet potatoes, which are nutrient dense are acceptable in moderation.
• Processed (junk) foods
• Refined vegetable oils like canola
• Salt (Don’t worry, you’ll still get sodium naturally from foods you eat, but if this is a deal breaker, you still want to add less salt to your meals.)

Get your prehistoric party on with these food groups:

• Grass-fed meat
• Seafood
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Eggs
• Nuts and seeds
• Coconut and olive oil
• Honey, in small amounts
• Avocado ????

Now, many people feel because the Paleolithic diet cuts out dairy, it lacks in the calcium department — which helps prevent osteoporosis, keeps our vital organs functioning and helps our blood to clot. However, getting our daily amount of calcium from dairy is definitely not the best or only choice. Instead, you can get your calcium fix with seeds, almonds, canned salmon and sardines, collard greens, spinach, kale, rhubarb and figs — some of the most calcium rich foods and avoid all the downsides of dairy. However, if you’re not eating enough of those lovely leafy greens or seeds, or you have a history of osteoporosis in your family, taking a calcium supplement is a good idea. The recommended daily amount for adults under fifty is 1000 mg, and be sure to pair it with vitamin D, which aids in absorption. 

Moi? 

For the most part I eat a veggie heavy Paleo diet, alternating with full vegan or vegetarian days. So, my plate still consists mostly of vegetables, about 70% in fact, with only a card deck sized piece of meat or fish.

To get started, flip the script and put your life in the technology era to use; there are so many amazing Paleo recipes at your fingertips online, so start some modern hunting and gathering!  Here are a few places to begin:

• 9 Paleo Stir-Fry Recipes That Call for One Skillet and Minimal Cooking Skills
• 40 Paleo Recipes That Will Make You Forget You’re On A Diet
• 20 Paleo Breakfast Recipes That Aren’t Eggs
• Paleo Grubs
• Nom Nom Paleo
• Cook Eat Paleo

Are you ready to give Paleo a try? Let me know which recipe you’ve decided to try first in the comments below. Or better yet, take a picture of the completed dish and tag and follow @ThePlanteLife on Instagram!

LOVE, Pebbles + Bam-Bam!