Paleo Diet: Pros and Cons
Over the past year, we have spent some time writing about the paleo diet, otherwise known as the modern caveman diet. This diet has become quite popular in recent years, but is it the right choice for you? Before we could make a good judgement call on this way of eating, we needed to learn a little more about it. After spending more time learning about the fundamentals of the Paleolithic diet, we have compiled a list of pros and cons which could help you determine if this is the type of meal plan that would work for you.
Some Positives and Negatives to Consider about the Paleo Diet
Pro for Paleo: Are you a big fan of lean meat, poultry, and/or fish? Then good news, because these meats form a staple of the modern day caveman diet. However, there are also some fish or krill oil capsules which you can buy if you do not have access to a good source of freshly caught fish (remember that the paleo lifestyle calls for grass-fed or wild sources of lean meat protein).
Con for Paleo: These unprocessed sources of fish and lean meat can get pretty expensive, and fresh sources may not be available year round depending on where you live. This is one of the reasons why our cavemen ancestors had to remain nomadic back in the day. Additionally, this can be a very difficult diet to adapt if you are a vegetarian or vegan, though it is not technically impossible.
Pro for Paleo: Fruit and vegetable eaters will be able to eat their fill while following the paleo diet. This helps to ensure that you are getting plenty of vitamins, macronutrients, and minerals on a regular basis. Just like the issue with grass-fed sources of lean meat, you could run into problems following this diet if you do not have access to quality produce that is locally grown.
Con for Paleo: A lot of hardcore athletes have taken to the paleo diet, and with all the protein that you can get from these meal plans, it seems like a great option. However, things like pasta or potatoes are a no go if you have decided to go paleo. So, where are you supposed to be getting your carbs in order to replenish vital energy? Well, you can actually add a small amount of natural carbs to your workout meal plans, which can include items like sweet potatoes oddly enough.
Con for Paleo: If you are looking to adapt this style of eating, then you will need to say goodbye to such foods as grains, breads, or pasta (all major parts of our diet since the advent of the agricultural revolution). Wait a second - is it a good idea to cut out such a big part of the established US Food Pyramid? For many people, eliminating these foods from their diet may too be too much to ask for.
Pro for Paleo: If you happen to have a gluten deficiency or are otherwise looking to go gluten free, than the paleo diet could be the perfect choice for you. For a lot of people, their over consumption of carbs coupled with a relatively sedentary lifestyle is making them overweight. On the paleo diet, you can get your daily dose of fiber through vegetables, fruit, and nuts.
Con for Paleo: If you are not able to drink milk or consume any other dairy products, where are you supposed to be getting the proper amount of calcium and vitamin D? If you were to adapt the modern caveman diet, you can get calcium from things like spinach, okra, broccoli, and blackberries. Also, spending some time in the sun can help you get a good dose of vitamin D! However, this may not be easy enough for everyone to adapt to, especially if you live somewhere that doesn't get a lot of sun.
Pro for Paleo: You will have to eliminate processed foods from your diet, which can be a very healthy decision overall. You can check out our paleo diet resource list for more info on this, but mainly try to avoid sweets, processed meats, and just about any other foods that come in a box (almonds are okay still!). Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. In fact, you will probably be very surprised by how many things you used to eat that are processed.
It seems like every week, more studies are coming out about the paleo diet. Many people tout it as a great way to get the lean and fit body that you have always wanted, while others argue that this is more of a €paleofantasy€. The paleo diet has also been become fairly popular among people living with chronic diseases and medical conditions. But the question still remains - is this the right choice for you? Well, there is really only one person that can answer that question, but you'll want to review the paleo pros and cons before doing so!
Some Positives and Negatives to Consider about the Paleo Diet
Pro for Paleo: Are you a big fan of lean meat, poultry, and/or fish? Then good news, because these meats form a staple of the modern day caveman diet. However, there are also some fish or krill oil capsules which you can buy if you do not have access to a good source of freshly caught fish (remember that the paleo lifestyle calls for grass-fed or wild sources of lean meat protein).
Con for Paleo: These unprocessed sources of fish and lean meat can get pretty expensive, and fresh sources may not be available year round depending on where you live. This is one of the reasons why our cavemen ancestors had to remain nomadic back in the day. Additionally, this can be a very difficult diet to adapt if you are a vegetarian or vegan, though it is not technically impossible.
Pro for Paleo: Fruit and vegetable eaters will be able to eat their fill while following the paleo diet. This helps to ensure that you are getting plenty of vitamins, macronutrients, and minerals on a regular basis. Just like the issue with grass-fed sources of lean meat, you could run into problems following this diet if you do not have access to quality produce that is locally grown.
Con for Paleo: A lot of hardcore athletes have taken to the paleo diet, and with all the protein that you can get from these meal plans, it seems like a great option. However, things like pasta or potatoes are a no go if you have decided to go paleo. So, where are you supposed to be getting your carbs in order to replenish vital energy? Well, you can actually add a small amount of natural carbs to your workout meal plans, which can include items like sweet potatoes oddly enough.
Con for Paleo: If you are looking to adapt this style of eating, then you will need to say goodbye to such foods as grains, breads, or pasta (all major parts of our diet since the advent of the agricultural revolution). Wait a second - is it a good idea to cut out such a big part of the established US Food Pyramid? For many people, eliminating these foods from their diet may too be too much to ask for.
Pro for Paleo: If you happen to have a gluten deficiency or are otherwise looking to go gluten free, than the paleo diet could be the perfect choice for you. For a lot of people, their over consumption of carbs coupled with a relatively sedentary lifestyle is making them overweight. On the paleo diet, you can get your daily dose of fiber through vegetables, fruit, and nuts.
Con for Paleo: If you are not able to drink milk or consume any other dairy products, where are you supposed to be getting the proper amount of calcium and vitamin D? If you were to adapt the modern caveman diet, you can get calcium from things like spinach, okra, broccoli, and blackberries. Also, spending some time in the sun can help you get a good dose of vitamin D! However, this may not be easy enough for everyone to adapt to, especially if you live somewhere that doesn't get a lot of sun.
Pro for Paleo: You will have to eliminate processed foods from your diet, which can be a very healthy decision overall. You can check out our paleo diet resource list for more info on this, but mainly try to avoid sweets, processed meats, and just about any other foods that come in a box (almonds are okay still!). Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. In fact, you will probably be very surprised by how many things you used to eat that are processed.
It seems like every week, more studies are coming out about the paleo diet. Many people tout it as a great way to get the lean and fit body that you have always wanted, while others argue that this is more of a €paleofantasy€. The paleo diet has also been become fairly popular among people living with chronic diseases and medical conditions. But the question still remains - is this the right choice for you? Well, there is really only one person that can answer that question, but you'll want to review the paleo pros and cons before doing so!
