What is the Paleo Diet: Eating according to your primal instincts
The paleo diet can rightfully be called the oldest diet ever. The paleo diet has been around for no less than 2.5 million years. Previously eaten out of necessity, nowadays for health reasons. But what does the paleo diet entail? And is this diet really that healthy? In this blog we will tell you all about it, and provide you with the current scientific insights.
What is the Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet, also known as the paleolithic diet or hunter-gatherer diet, is based on the presumed eating pattern of prehistoric man. The gastrointestinal-liver physician Walter L. Voegtlin created fame for this diet in the 1970s. Since then, several doctors and dietitians have advocated this way of eating.
What should you not eat?
All contemporary processed foods such as soft drinks, sweets, chips and ready-made meals immediately fall off. But agriculture and domestication are also phenomena that prehistoric man never experienced. Grain products such as bread, breakfast cereals & pasta, dairy and legumes therefore do not fit into the paleo diet.
What can you eat?
Everything that the primeval man also ate, think of:
-
Fish
-
Meat
-
Fruits
-
Coconut oil
-
Vegetables
-
Unroasted nuts
Is it healthy?
The philosophy is that our genes are not yet adapted to the modern way of eating, because that way of eating has been around for a relatively short time. 10,000 years compared to more than 2 million years. Contemporary affluent diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are said to be caused by this way of eating, according to the Paleo movement.
A review (Comparison of different studies) shows that the paleo diet can help with weight loss and general metabolism. However, a calcium deficiency can occur and this is therefore important to monitor. Further research is required to prove these health benefits.
Conclusion: As often in science, there is no fixed conclusion, so do what feels right for you!
Curious about more health blogs? then take a look at our blog page.
