As healthy as the Paleo diet is, it involves some eating patterns some scientists believe may negatively impact your health. That’s why you must ensure it’s the right choice for you before you even start. This article will cover everything you need to know before you start a paleo diet, from its health benefits to potential risks. Let’s get started!
What Is a Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet, commonly referred to as the caveman diet is based on the idea that modern humans would have thrived better if they had eaten the same way that ancient hunter-gatherers did. Meat, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and seeds are staples in the paleo diet, while legumes, dairy products, and grains are avoided.
One popular misconception about the paleo diet is that people in the stone age ate a predominantly animal-based diet, while in-depth research has shown that meat only made up 3% of their diet and most of their meals came from plants.
What Are the Benefits of the Paleo Diet
Since carbohydrates make up the bulk of the average American’s diet, cutting them out may be a good idea, especially when it comes to refined carbs. You can also shed a few pounds by avoiding processed meals like chips, butter, candies, cookies, potato, and sugary drinks.
In patients showing symptoms of metabolic syndrome, the paleo diet reduces fasting blood sugar, blood pressure, and triglycerides (i.e., blood lipids that raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and death).
What Are the Potential Risks of following a Paleo Diet
While avoiding the foods in a paleo diet may help you lose weight and improve some health conditions, it also increases your risk of vitamin deficiencies and makes you stand the risk of some adverse health effects in the long run.
For instance, dairy products, which are rich in bone-healthy calcium and vitamin D, are off-limits on a paleo diet. In addition, bone weakness and osteoporosis can result from not having enough of these nutrients.
Beans and legumes are also off-limits on this diet. Legumes are filled with fiber, protein, and fiber. They also reduce cholesterol and increase satiety. Cutting them out of your diet means you’ll miss these nutrients through this source.
Many paleo dieters say their diet improves their digestive system, but recent studies have shown that’s not the case. Some research suggests that people who adopt a paleo diet have distinct gut microbiota and higher TMAO levels. In addition, Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) has been linked to cardiovascular illness.
