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The Paleo diet vs the Mediterranean diet
renae3anderson
Posts: 2 Member
Hello can anyone tell me the difference between these two diets? I am looking for recipes clean eating lower carbs, gluten and dairy free. Thank you
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Replies
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Both diets have a lot of recipes available. Both diets allow one to practice "clean eating" (however one defines that). Both diets can be done with lower carbohydrates. Both diets can be done gluten-free. Both diets can be done dairy-free.
The differences between the two is that the paleo diet is limited to the foods modern people like to imagine people ate during the paleolithic era and the Mediterranean diet is focused on the foods that are typically eaten in the Mediterranean region.
It's really a matter of personal preference. Which one contains more of the foods you like to eat and does a particular style of eating make it easier for you to meet your calorie goals?8 -
renae3anderson wrote: »Hello can anyone tell me the difference between these two diets? I am looking for recipes clean eating lower carbs, gluten and dairy free. Thank you
To add just a bit more detail:
Paleo requires no legumes (beans, including soybeans, lentils, peanuts), no dairy, no grains, and no added sugar, and sometimes no potatoes. It's supposedly based on what people ate in paleo times, as Jane said, but that has largely been debunked. IMO, it cuts out some nutrient-dense foods that are unlikely to be overeaten and for me requires more reliance on animal-based sources of protein than I like, but some find the mythology of the diet compelling or have issues with some of the foods you cut out anyway, and find it helps them focus on cooking more from whole foods (which you can do anyway -- I'm not paleo but mostly cook from whole foods) or that in the absence of the foods removed they eat more healthfully because they replace them with lean meat and veg or some such (and again one can eat lots of veg, fruit, some lean meat without doing paleo -- I do just based on nutrition principles).
Mediterranean is based on general ways of eating in that region (although you will actually find a variety of styles within the region, which is large). It's quite similar to any typical description of a healthful dietary style (including such diets as DASH, although DASH may have more dairy). Basically, it focuses on cooking from whole foods and including in the diet veg, fruit, whole grains and legumes, healthy sources of fat such as olive and olive oil and nuts and seeds (avocado is not from the region but no reason that wouldn't also fit the basic principles), and then some fish and other seafood. Meat is limited, especially red meat.6 -
I'll weigh in here. When I started on MFP 7 years ago, Paleo was all the rage. Post after post discussed it and how to do it , recipes, especially what not to eat. It has disappeared. I presume because it was too restrictive to do long term. I would suggest that you choose a way of eating that you can keep up forever.
As for Mediterranean, I live in Italy and that is how I've been eating for 36 years. I like it. I still count my calories because I like to cook and it's easy to exaggerate. I also want to hit my protein goal.
So, your choice depends on your food likes and your goals. There are other choices out there. Pick something easy.8 -
Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
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renae3anderson wrote: »Hello can anyone tell me the difference between these two diets? I am looking for recipes clean eating lower carbs, gluten and dairy free. Thank you
To add just a bit more detail:
Paleo requires no legumes (beans, including soybeans, lentils, peanuts), no dairy, no grains, and no added sugar, and sometimes no potatoes. It's supposedly based on what people ate in paleo times, as Jane said, but that has largely been debunked. IMO, it cuts out some nutrient-dense foods that are unlikely to be overeaten and for me requires more reliance on animal-based sources of protein than I like, but some find the mythology of the diet compelling or have issues with some of the foods you cut out anyway, and find it helps them focus on cooking more from whole foods (which you can do anyway -- I'm not paleo but mostly cook from whole foods) or that in the absence of the foods removed they eat more healthfully because they replace them with lean meat and veg or some such (and again one can eat lots of veg, fruit, some lean meat without doing paleo -- I do just based on nutrition principles).
Mediterranean is based on general ways of eating in that region (although you will actually find a variety of styles within the region, which is large). It's quite similar to any typical description of a healthful dietary style (including such diets as DASH, although DASH may have more dairy). Basically, it focuses on cooking from whole foods and including in the diet veg, fruit, whole grains and legumes, healthy sources of fat such as olive and olive oil and nuts and seeds (avocado is not from the region but no reason that wouldn't also fit the basic principles), and then some fish and other seafood. Meat is limited, especially red meat.
This.... damn @lemurcat2 , were we separated at birth?2 -
paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Yes, I have to confess there is zero appeal to me in eating only from a list of seemingly arbitrarily chosen foods. The more I count calories, the harder it is to imagine adopting one of these named plans.7 -
paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Ummm... I think Paleo was wrong from the beginning. You can make meals just as hyperpalitable and energy dense following their guidelines. I think that a simple diet is probably one of the best ways we can eat. The elimination of legumes, dairy, and moderate amounts of whole grains is a bad idea. I think the Whole30 is not an ideal diet, but something attune to it might help some people learn about what they eat... jmho3 -
I did a food group elimination protocol, self-diagnosis by eliminating food groups. It was useless for the long haul. Self-diagnosis by food group elimination goes over like a lead balloon with most medical professionals. Quacks don't require any standard testing to make a medical diagnosis. Paleo AIP, FODMAP, gluten-free or gluten-full, medical testing can save you a bunch of time and self-induced misery from self-diagnosis.2
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psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Ummm... I think Paleo was wrong from the beginning. You can make meals just as hyperpalitable and energy dense following their guidelines. I think that a simple diet is probably one of the best ways we can eat. The elimination of legumes, dairy, and moderate amounts of whole grains is a bad idea. I think the Whole30 is not an ideal diet, but something attune to it might help some people learn about what they eat... jmho
Yeah, I think the W30 rules are silly, and not good for a lifetime diet as it cuts out nutrient-dense foods without reason, but I do think one can eat healthfully following those rules. I really think the benefit of W30 for those whom it benefits is most likely that it provides an incentive to cook at home from whole foods, and if one is not used to doing that it might help create a new habit. I don't think it's at all necessary to do W30 to develop that habit (it's something I did years ago, during a period when I was eating oats every morning, after all), but I think some find the notion of the limited period of time and it being a challenge to give them an incentive they would not ordinarily have.3 -
psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Ummm... I think Paleo was wrong from the beginning. You can make meals just as hyperpalitable and energy dense following their guidelines. I think that a simple diet is probably one of the best ways we can eat. The elimination of legumes, dairy, and moderate amounts of whole grains is a bad idea. I think the Whole30 is not an ideal diet, but something attune to it might help some people learn about what they eat... jmho
Not sure why you quoted my post to say that.
I am not posting in favour of paleo nor in agreement with it - just saying named diets go in and out of fashion like all things - and paleo has gone out.
3 -
paperpudding wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Ummm... I think Paleo was wrong from the beginning. You can make meals just as hyperpalitable and energy dense following their guidelines. I think that a simple diet is probably one of the best ways we can eat. The elimination of legumes, dairy, and moderate amounts of whole grains is a bad idea. I think the Whole30 is not an ideal diet, but something attune to it might help some people learn about what they eat... jmho
Not sure why you quoted my post to say that.
I am not posting in favour of paleo nor in agreement with it - just saying named diets go in and out of fashion like all things - and paleo has gone out.
I think he's just in agreement with you and is riffing off and amplifying your position, not countering it!
7 -
paperpudding wrote: »psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Yes I concur snowflake.
Paleo seems to have had its day.
Although of course one can still do it, not being in fashion any more doesn't mean you can't.
Have never seen the point of it myself - and I agree with Jane - OP would be better off considering what dietary aims she has and adjusting her own diet to that, rather than chooosing a named diet with arbitrary restrictions and rules made by others.
Ummm... I think Paleo was wrong from the beginning. You can make meals just as hyperpalitable and energy dense following their guidelines. I think that a simple diet is probably one of the best ways we can eat. The elimination of legumes, dairy, and moderate amounts of whole grains is a bad idea. I think the Whole30 is not an ideal diet, but something attune to it might help some people learn about what they eat... jmho
Not sure why you quoted my post to say that.
I am not posting in favour of paleo nor in agreement with it - just saying named diets go in and out of fashion like all things - and paleo has gone out.
I think he's just in agreement with you and is riffing off and amplifying your position, not countering it!
The wiz is right!3 -
Well, apparently someone else doesn't agree with you and me as to what it is that you were trying to say and thinks you were trying to say something else! 🤷♂️3
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Probably same person who disagreed with me - not sure if they disagree Paleo has gone out of fashion or disagree that I was not posting in ageeement with it or disagree that we agree with each other.
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paperpudding wrote: »Probably same person who disagreed with me - not sure if they disagree Paleo has gone out of fashion or disagree that I was not posting in ageeement with it or disagree that we agree with each other.
Ma'am, there are some people that disagree that the world is round.. 🙄
This said, i think a Mediterranean/Paleo dietary style is basically what I do. The higher protein from paleo, with the emphasis on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from Mediterranean. 40/30/30 macros... just a thought.2 -
psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Probably same person who disagreed with me - not sure if they disagree Paleo has gone out of fashion or disagree that I was not posting in ageeement with it or disagree that we agree with each other.
Ma'am, there are some people that disagree that the world is round.. 🙄
This said, i think a Mediterranean/Paleo dietary style is basically what I do. The higher protein from paleo, with the emphasis on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from Mediterranean. 40/30/30 macros... just a thought.
Needs a name. Those people who did the supposedly combo vegan and paleo diet (that had nothing to do with veganism) used pegan (pronounced peegan), I believe. So yours should be Maleo. Plus, all kinds of possible weird marketing with that name -- winner!
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psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Probably same person who disagreed with me - not sure if they disagree Paleo has gone out of fashion or disagree that I was not posting in ageeement with it or disagree that we agree with each other.
Ma'am, there are some people that disagree that the world is round.. 🙄
This said, i think a Mediterranean/Paleo dietary style is basically what I do. The higher protein from paleo, with the emphasis on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from Mediterranean. 40/30/30 macros... just a thought.
Needs a name. Those people who did the supposedly combo vegan and paleo diet (that had nothing to do with veganism) used pegan (pronounced peegan), I believe. So yours should be Maleo. Plus, all kinds of possible weird marketing with that name -- winner!
mediterraneo? paleterranean?2 -
Paleterranean if pronounced like pale terranean (which it looks like it should be) sounds like you are talking about an earthling with fair skin, so I think mediterraneo is better. Maybe Medleo? Or does that sound like one is talking about the court doctor in a sequel to the Lion King?1
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psychod787 wrote: »paperpudding wrote: »Probably same person who disagreed with me - not sure if they disagree Paleo has gone out of fashion or disagree that I was not posting in ageeement with it or disagree that we agree with each other.
Ma'am, there are some people that disagree that the world is round.. 🙄
This said, i think a Mediterranean/Paleo dietary style is basically what I do. The higher protein from paleo, with the emphasis on monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from Mediterranean. 40/30/30 macros... just a thought.
Needs a name. Those people who did the supposedly combo vegan and paleo diet (that had nothing to do with veganism) used pegan (pronounced peegan), I believe. So yours should be Maleo. Plus, all kinds of possible weird marketing with that name -- winner!
I like it... Maleo it is ma'am... I feel my testosterone rising just saying it. Lol3
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