What is Paleo Diet? What Does the Science Say?

Most dieticians and health experts have strictly criticized the paleo diet because it denounces two of the main components of a healthy diet - grains and dairy. Moreover, according to them, it's one of the most challenging diets due to its overly restrictive nature.

The alleged benefits of the Paleo diet

The loyalists of the paleo diet claim that such an eating pattern is healthy, but there is no concrete evidence that the man of prehistoric times did not suffer from the health issues of the current times. Paleo diet supporters also believe that the shift from the caveman diet to the agricultural diet increased instances of chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

According to the Paleo definition, humans are not genetically synchronized to consume foods produced due to modern agricultural methods, which makes it necessary for us to follow the food pattern of our ancestors.

Here are some of the alleged health benefits of the paleolithic diet:

• Reduced cholesterol levels
• Normal blood pressure
• Weight loss and inch loss
• Improved glycemic control
• Gut health
• Improved satiety
• Better sleeping pattern
• No inflammation

Paleo meals strictly abhor the modern processed food culture and foods rich in sodium, which is the root cause of various health issues. In contrast, shifting to a diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables can certainly benefit an individual's overall health. In addition, many people who followed the paleo diet reported multiple health benefits mentioned above.

However, the question remains, though the paleo diet is a healthy eating pattern, is it necessary to strictly avoid eating all kinds of grains and dairy products? Let us understand it from the perspective of science!

What does science say about the paleo diet?

Over the years, scientists and health experts have studied the potential benefits of the paleo diet and tried to figure out whether an individual can take it up as a long-term diet or not.

Even research found that specific short-term health improvements are possible when a person follows the paleo diet. Some of the benefits are:

• Reduced waist size
• Normal triglyceride levels
• Normal blood pressure
• High levels of good cholesterol
• Improved blood sugar levels

A paleolithic diet is an excellent option and a great practice for those seeking to lose weight and control obesity. From this perspective, it won't be wrong to state that the paleo diet can significantly minimize the risk of chronic diseases triggered due to excessive weight.

The risks of the paleo diet

• Nutritional deficiency: Experts claim that the paleo diet is healthy as it reduces the risk of obesity and various other health issues it brings. However, cutting down on two essential parts of a healthy diet (grains and dairy) can cause nutritional deficiencies and a weak immune system, thus, increasing the risk of long-term health problems.

• Bone Health: With no dairy intake, one will likely suffer from compromised bone health. Milk and dairy products are rich sources of calcium and vitamin D, and eliminating this from your daily diet is likely to lead to severe bone diseases such as osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone fractures.

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Also, if you cut down on legumes and beans, you are cutting down on two of the most significant sources of plant-based protein, fiber, and minerals. These food groups are also known to lower cholesterol and improve satiety. Therefore, eliminating these two food groups will likely cause high nutritional deficiencies.

Further, health experts also challenge the theory that the paleo diet helps improve gut health. According to a few recent studies, people who follow the paleo diet have multiple gut microbiota and increased trimethylamine N-oxide levels, which link to heart diseases.

Therefore, it is concluded that high-fiber foods such as legumes and grains are highly responsible for maintaining gut health and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The paleo diet favors eating a lot of meat; thus, most people indulge in mindless meat eating. Unfortunately, excessive intake of red meat triggers chronic diseases. Excess animal protein is likely to raise insulin levels leading to high risks of diabetes, cancer, kidney damage, and early mortality.

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According to modern-day researchers, the paleo diet is overhyped, unhealthy, and under-researched. Moreover, adhering to it for the long term isn't everybody's cup of tea. Therefore, practical science is strictly against this diet.