One of the best-known and most-followed diets that exist today is the Paleo Diet. It is a revolutionary method that is based on eating as our ancestors once ate during the time of the Palaeolithic, hence the name of the diet. Therefore, we are faced with a diet that is mainly based on eating meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables, that is, everything that was obtained from hunting and agriculture.
In this article, we want to discover what the Paleo Diet is, its benefits, and the cons that this revolutionary method of food has. A plan that has many followers, but also has a lot of detractors due to its food limitations. Here we tell you.
What is the Paleo Diet?
Paleo diet advocates say that this eating method is based on the real needs of our bodies. In other words, our ancestors were strong and healthy by eating what they got directly from the earth; they didn’t have to process anything to eat well. And that is precisely what this diet is based on: eating everything that comes directly from nature and has not been processed by humans: fruits, vegetables, meats (not processed), and fish.
This diet therefore eliminates the consumption of dairy products, cereals, and processed products that are not natural and have been treated by human intervention. This Stone Age diet advocates that we only need natural ingredients to have a nutritious, varied, and healthy diet. Sugars, cereals, dairy products, and legumes are eliminated.
Benefits of the Paleo Diet
Currently, there are many people who follow the paleo diet because they argue that it is a natural eating method and more than enough for our health. Evolution has meant that advances in the industry will also affect our food and, therefore, bet on a return to origins to avoid including unnecessary toxins or chemicals in our bodies.
The main benefits of the Paleo Diet are as follows:
– Reduced blood sugar and greater balance.
– Energy balance is achieved throughout the day.
– Reduction of consumption of saturated fats by eliminating processed foods.
– It is an ideal diet for athletes, as protein is a great ally for muscles and joints.
– It helps to lose weight by reducing the consumption of sugars and fats.
– Vegetables and fruits are rich in fiber, so it’s a satiating diet.
Cons of the Paleo Diet
But despite being a very popular diet today, many people are against this method of eating. As in the past with the Dukan diet, the paleo diet eliminates the intake of carbohydrates and legumes, two food groups very beneficial to our health. The main cons of this diet are:
– Increased cardiac risk due to the high consumption of proteins that defend the diet.
– Increased bad cholesterol due to overindulging in animal proteins.
– More risk of kidney problems because the kidneys have to work harder due to the high protein consumption.
– Fatigue and excessive tiredness due to the lack of energy resulting from the omission of carbohydrates.
– Risk to hypothyroidism as the body can reduce thyroid function to save energy, due to lack of carbohydrates.