Is The Paleo Diet Healthy?

The Paleo Diet runs on the same eating habit that is modeled after Palaeolithic era when cave men used to hunt and eat their food. The diet consists of meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits and nuts, discarding cereals, grains, processed food and sugar. Eating more red meat can be good for getting protein and iron. A diet rich in lean protein and vegetables can make you feel fuller, helps in controlling blood sugar levels, and help you lose weight. Cutting out processed foods reduces the amount of chemicals added to foods including preservatives, additives and more. But if you look at the big picture, is the Paleo diet healthy?

What are the Risks of the Paleo Diet?

You May Acquire Nutrient Deficiencies

The Paleo diet denies eating diary and grains. The no dairy rule decreases protein and can put most at risk for deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D. This in turn leads to osteoporosis, rickets and bone density issues. The no grains policy in the Paleo diet cuts down the rich source of fiber, vitamin B, iron, magnesium and selenium that we get from legumes and grains which can have broad and serious effects.

Increased Risk of Diseases & Death

The Paleo diet encourages red meat consumption for protein. Saturated fats are increased which causes stroke and heart attack. Your bad cholesterol levels can become elevated. Red meat is responsible for people developing Type 2 Diabetes and increases mortality by 13 percent when you eat one 3-ounce serving of unprocessed red meat per day.* Although these issues are garnering some controversy and may require more research to solidify the results. Eat a balance of high protein and low fat meats when following the Paleo diet.

Ketosis & Low Energy

The Paleo diet requires very low carbohydrate intake. Your body depends on carbohydrates as fuel to increase energy, so reducing grains can quickly cause lethargy. They theory being Paleo is that when there is an absence of carbohydrates in your diet, the body will be forced to burn stored fat to produce energy. A diet rich in lean protein and vegetables can make you feel fuller, helps in controlling blood sugar levels, and help you lose weight. The unhealthy risk of this is that it could lead to an overuse of fat for energy, known as ketosis. High levels of ketoses can lead to dehydration and in severe cases, coma due to severe metabolic abnormalities.

Is the Paleo Diet Healthy?

Paleo diet is a good way of introducing healthy way of living into our lives. The diet discards the harmful packaged foods that are high in sugar, bad fats, chemicals, preservatives, and additives. It is high in fiber from vegetable  and fruit sources that also provide critical vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It emphasizes in local, sustainable, organic farming and grass fed meat options. Just like all lifestyle changes in diet, knowing your own nutritional needs and medical issues is key. Eating foods that provide a healthy balance is also critical to a healthy living and the Paleo diet. All in all, the Paleo Diet can be a very healthy option for a balanced diet if you follow the rules of decreasing processed foods white increasing nutritious and clean sources of meat proteins, fruits and veggies.

*  http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/reasons-eating-red-meat-unhealthy-2945.html