Is paleo a healthier diet than other diets?
rosebette
Posts: 1,660 Member
So, I was at a Ladies' Night at this wellness center where I get my massages, eating some organic chocolate goodies, and as I was talking to several folk there, who are associated with the chiropractic practice who was hosting the evening, they were talking about how certain diets prevent inflammation, and that this practice advocated the paleo diet. I happen to have some issues with osteoarthritis, especially in my knees (got through my workout today on aleve), and possibly may have the markers for rheumatoid (it's in my family). I don't even know what eating paleo is -- eating like a cave man? But is it a better diet than just tracking and trying to get all your macros in.
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It depends on two things really - 1) what your goals are, and 2) whether you choose to believe the science behind paleo rather than the science against paleo (it's pretty controversial right now, with experts on both sides of the fight).
Counting calories and looking at your macros is pretty much solely about weight loss, whereas Paleo tends to be more about health in general - reducing inflammation, increasing vitality, eating nutritious foods while avoiding foods that can be problematic, etc.
As with all lifestyles there are many ways to do Paleo, but some of the most agreed upon basics are 1) no grains and 2) no processed foods. Dairy is up in the air - some are heavily against it, some are totally for it, so that'll really be up to you. But basically it's eating as natural food as possible (without added chemicals, etc. etc.) and avoiding grains.
My suggestion is that if you're interested, try it. The main criticisms of Paleo have to do with its restrictions, so if those are something you can live happily with then it might suit you well. If they're too difficult for you to maintain as a lifestyle then I suggest you look at a different way of eating.0 -
I don't know if I could go without eating grains entirely. I eat only whole grains and brown rice right now, but isn't paleo essentially no or low carb. Also, I need the dairy. I have pretty low bone density. I eat yogurt and take a supplement.0
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I think if you already have medical issues and are concerned about food with regard to inflammation, your best bet would be to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian and see if there are specific foods you should avoid.0
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in…for the science of paleo ..
OP - Paleo is not healthier then anything else out there…if you want to try it then by all means do so, but it is not some magical diet that is going to cure all your ills.
Oh and "paleo" had nothing to do with eating like our paleolithic brethren….0 -
It depends on two things really - 1) what your goals are, and 2) whether you choose to believe the science behind paleo rather than the science against paleo (it's pretty controversial right now, with experts on both sides of the fight).
Counting calories and looking at your macros is pretty much solely about weight loss, whereas Paleo tends to be more about health in general - reducing inflammation, increasing vitality, eating nutritious foods while avoiding foods that can be problematic, etc.
As with all lifestyles there are many ways to do Paleo, but some of the most agreed upon basics are 1) no grains and 2) no processed foods. Dairy is up in the air - some are heavily against it, some are totally for it, so that'll really be up to you. But basically it's eating as natural food as possible (without added chemicals, etc. etc.) and avoiding grains.
My suggestion is that if you're interested, try it. The main criticisms of Paleo have to do with its restrictions, so if those are something you can live happily with then it might suit you well. If they're too difficult for you to maintain as a lifestyle then I suggest you look at a different way of eating.
i would be curios what science there is for paleo….0 -
No. Any diet that meets all your micros and macors and is sustainable in the long term is a healthy diet. It doesn't have to have a special name in order to be considered healthy.0
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Not for me I eat what I want in moderation - but I'm a healthy 31 year old with some slight food allergies and intolerances but nothing serious.
But yes for my father, he's almost 65, has hereditary high cholesterol and is gluten intolerant. He is almost exclusively paleo, and he does not eat any red meat or eggs.0 -
Healthier? Depends on who you ask!
Popcorn anyone?
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Not for me I eat what I want in moderation - but I'm a healthy 31 year old with some slight food allergies and intolerances but nothing serious.
But yes for my father, he's almost 65, has hereditary high cholesterol and is gluten intolerant. He is almost exclusively paleo, and he does not eat any red meat or eggs.
Doesn't paleo consist primarily of protein sources, including red meat and eggs. So how could someone get adequate protein on that diet without meat and eggs?
Also, I assumed observing macros and tracking is good for a healthy diet, not just weight loss.0 -
Paleo is a fancy marketing term for the basis of good nutrition. Certainly nothing wrong with meat, fruit and veg.
But then they go and cut out whole other food groups for no apparent reason. (Yes, you should cut food out if you are allergic or intolerant, if not there is no benefit)
Remember, once you've hit your micro nutrient needs you don't get any bonus points for getting more.0 -
:yawn:0
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Try it and see if it helps with the inflammation, it can't hurt to see if it works for you0
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Paleo is exactly as healthy as any other diet in which the full spectrum of a person's necessary macro and micro nutrients are met. Smacznego.0
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I think if you already have medical issues and are concerned about food with regard to inflammation, your best bet would be to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian and see if there are specific foods you should avoid.
^This. Talk to your doctor who has knowledge of your medical history; don't take the advice of a bunch of chiropractors who don't know you or anything about you.0 -
IMO no. I've got autoimmune issues so I've asked a few rheumatologists about diet and they've all said that anti-inflammatory diets are bunk. Given my personal experience with eliminating certain foods, I've found that the best thing for me is to calorie count, hit my macros, and eat a few servings of veggies.0
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Paleo is a fancy marketing term for the basis of good nutrition. Certainly nothing wrong with meat, fruit and veg.
But then they go and cut out whole other food groups for no apparent reason. (Yes, you should cut food out if you are allergic or intolerant, if not there is no benefit)
Remember, once you've hit your micro nutrient needs you don't get any bonus points for getting more.
so your telling me I am not accumulating any rewards points for more protein????? Those *kitten* screwed me again!0 -
:explode:0
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Actually, I went to the Paleo site to see what foods are allowed, and breakfast would be a big problem for me. I have high cholesterol, and I can't eat eggs every day, just once in a while. If you can't eat dairy or grains, there isn't much else you can eat for breakfast. I think I could manage the rest of the day.0
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Actually, I went to the Paleo site to see what foods are allowed, and breakfast would be a big problem for me. I have high cholesterol, and I can't eat eggs every day, just once in a while. If you can't eat dairy or grains, there isn't much else you can eat for breakfast. I think I could manage the rest of the day.
If you are worried about foods causing health issues for you, I would recommend an elimination diet over going Paleo. With paleo you're just cutting out a bunch of foods for no good reason. With an elimination diet you cut out a bunch of stuff and then you gradually add it back in to see which foods (if any) are actually problematic for you. Then you can just not eat those foods while still enjoying the others.0 -
I don't know if I could go without eating grains entirely. I eat only whole grains and brown rice right now, but isn't paleo essentially no or low carb. Also, I need the dairy. I have pretty low bone density. I eat yogurt and take a supplement.
No, paleo is not essentially low carb or no carb, it is a common misconception. It does tend to be lower in carb than the SAD, but doesn't have to be low carb. Ideally, it should not be low carb.
The whole needing dairy thing for calcium is another thing, you can get enough without dairy, but you have to pay attention. That is not an endorsement for giving up dairy, just making a point. Primal (similar to Paleo) includes dairy.
Can it be healthy? Yes, it is entirely possible to get a balanced diet and meet your macros and micros on this diet. It is basically meat, veggies and fruit. You can still obtain the vitamins and minerals you miss from eliminating grains and dairy from other sources, but it is something you need to be conscious of.
Can it be unhealthy? Absolutely.
I'm not sold on the anti-inflammatory spin on the diet. But if someone tries it and it works, I'm glad, whether it is placebo or for real.0 -
Actually, I went to the Paleo site to see what foods are allowed, and breakfast would be a big problem for me. I have high cholesterol, and I can't eat eggs every day, just once in a while. If you can't eat dairy or grains, there isn't much else you can eat for breakfast. I think I could manage the rest of the day.
One of the ideas I have read about Paleo is to basically forget the idea of traditional breakfast. You don't need to eat eggs, grains, or dairy for breakfast, eat is as just another meal.0 -
Actually, I went to the Paleo site to see what foods are allowed, and breakfast would be a big problem for me. I have high cholesterol, and I can't eat eggs every day, just once in a while. If you can't eat dairy or grains, there isn't much else you can eat for breakfast. I think I could manage the rest of the day.
If you are worried about foods causing health issues for you, I would recommend an elimination diet over going Paleo. With paleo you're just cutting out a bunch of foods for no good reason. With an elimination diet you cut out a bunch of stuff and then you gradually add it back in to see which foods (if any) are actually problematic for you. Then you can just not eat those foods while still enjoying the others.
So my next question would be -- what foods are supposed to be "inflammatory" -- i.e., cause arthritis, etc., since I don't have any food allergies. I guess one of the principles behind paleo is that grains are inflammatory. Is there any evidence to back this up?0 -
No, Paleo is not healthier than any other diet.
Will it work for you? Maybe. Your best bet is to keep your diet as is and drop one thing for a month, but just one thing. Like, do no dairy for a month. Or no gluten for a month. Record how you feel, and be honest. I've known far too many people who have dropped dairy, wheat, and sugar at the same time and experienced no difference in their bodies other than a little weight lost, and concluded that dairy, wheat, and sugar are all bad and make them fat.0 -
IMO paleo does a lot of things right for people, and then unnecessarily derps up a lot of other things as a diet for the general public.0
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Is it healthier, no. Can be be healthy, yes. It can be a very helpful diet depending on how a person approaches it, their preferences, and if they want to put any thought into their diet, but ultimately it is not healthier than the next diet.0
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No, Paleo is not healthier than any other diet.
Will it work for you? Maybe. Your best bet is to keep your diet as is and drop one thing for a month, but just one thing. Like, do no dairy for a month. Or no gluten for a month. Record how you feel, and be honest. I've known far too many people who have dropped dairy, wheat, and sugar at the same time and experienced no difference in their bodies other than a little weight lost, and concluded that dairy, wheat, and sugar are all bad and make them fat.
I wouldn't say any one thing is making me "fat." I've done tracking for about 3 months and lost 4 lbs., but I don't have that much to lose. I guess I'm more concerned about joint pain. I haven't heard anything about dairy causing that (and even some things about it helping), but I have heard that some grains might cause it. On the other hand, I live in New England, and cold damp weather 4 days out of 7, and "spring" days that have a high of 44 degrees don't help either.0 -
Pseudoscience. Period.0
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Pseudoscience. Period.
The basis of it as marketed, yes. But in and of itself as a diet, it is fine.0 -
Pseudoscience. Period.
The basis of it as marketed, yes. But in and of itself as a diet, it is fine.
So, in other words, it's a sound or healthy diet, but all that stuff about how we have to eat that way because our bodies are genetically programmed to be incapable of processing grain or anything that has to be cultivated is BS?0 -
No, Paleo is not healthier than any other diet.
Will it work for you? Maybe. Your best bet is to keep your diet as is and drop one thing for a month, but just one thing. Like, do no dairy for a month. Or no gluten for a month. Record how you feel, and be honest. I've known far too many people who have dropped dairy, wheat, and sugar at the same time and experienced no difference in their bodies other than a little weight lost, and concluded that dairy, wheat, and sugar are all bad and make them fat.
I wouldn't say any one thing is making me "fat." I've done tracking for about 3 months and lost 4 lbs., but I don't have that much to lose. I guess I'm more concerned about joint pain. I haven't heard anything about dairy causing that (and even some things about it helping), but I have heard that some grains might cause it. On the other hand, I live in New England, and cold damp weather 4 days out of 7, and "spring" days that have a high of 44 degrees don't help either.
Oh yeah, I got that your main concern is your joint pain. The reports from people I know were more examples of doin' it wrong than meant to be a direct comparison to your situation. Sorry if that was unclear!
I think the main point is that you may be able to eliminate one or two ingredients without going all crazy restrictive.0
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