Paleo diet? What do you guys think about it?

katiemeridien
katiemeridien Posts: 83 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Is it like Atkins? Whats the deal with this? I see lots of fitness people on Twitter claim they are 'Paleo'...
Someone explain?

Thanks!

Replies

  • FutureMrsWanland
    FutureMrsWanland Posts: 47 Member
    This is what I found on it when I googled...hmmm

    With readily available modern foods, The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, antioxidant vitamins, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health and are low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, saturated and trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems. The Paleo Diet encourages dieters to replace dairy and grain products with fresh fruits and vegetables -- foods that are more nutritious than whole grains or dairy products.
  • amycal
    amycal Posts: 646 Member
    I have read a lot about it. There is a trainer at my club who advocates it and gave a presentation at a seminar there. However I really struggle with limiting my fruit and not eating grains and legumes so I have been reluctant to try to follow. This guy talked a lot about eating wild meats such as elk, venison and a variety of meats vs just chicken and ground beef. I am weird about that kind of stuff though.

    I also have gone to presentations by a local Naturopath who advocates a primarily plant based diet. I know his plan works because my mom has followed it and avoided having to start Celebrex for arthritis.

    Interestingly they both talk about a lot of the same things such as toxicity and eating local, grass fed beef (although doc only eats a little meat) They are both against dairy and consider gluten a food for many people to avoid.

    I have lost weight by cleaning up my diet and eat a mix of foods - I just try to cut out sugar, bad fats, processed food etc. If my weight loss stalls I might try Paleo for a bit to jump start and help accelerate loss of fat. I also consider trying to go gluten free.

    I think it is worth trying if you can limit yourself to eating meat, fish and vegetables.
  • MirandaJayne
    MirandaJayne Posts: 600 Member
    I can tell you that for some the Paleo diet is peoples excuse to eat an excess of meat - eat like the cave men did - meat.

    I can say that the meat of today is not the caveman's meat. Our meat is all domesticated vs wild. Our meat is pumped up with antibioics, and all kinds of chemicals from the herbicided/pesticided grains/grass it eats. Also our meat today has a completely different fat composition compared to what the cave men eat as a result of what I mentioned above.

    One of the important parts of the paleo diet that many people might foget in their excitment to eat an abundance of meat, is that this diet is based on local food sources - advantage. Depending on where you live this can be a disadvantage (i.e. for me living in sourthern ontario does not make this easy as there is very little fresh local produce available throughout the winter months).

    Part of eating what is found locally means that this includes frutis and veggies. It's not all about meat.
  • chrissym78
    chrissym78 Posts: 628 Member
    No not adkins at all. I eat a primal diet, which is pretty much the same. No processed foods, lots of lean protein and nuts, lots of veggies, some fruit, no grain (I do eat some occasionally, mainly oats) Everyone has opinions about it but I have lost 60 lbs since last August and I feel incredible! Definitely maintainable for me.
  • chrissym78
    chrissym78 Posts: 628 Member
    this is kind of an unfair judgement.... I eat clean meat (local, grass fed, chemical free) and I have a huge garden and can my fresh stuff as much as possible. I eat only proper portions of meat, not a whole side of beef in one meal or anything.
  • merrillfoster
    merrillfoster Posts: 837 Member
    So there's a guy in my office who is 'Paleo' and will NOT shut up about it (seriously, so annoying. If you want to live like that fine but stop telling the rest of us that we're going to drop dead tomorrow b/c we don't do it). The way I understand, it's very high protein, but very low carb. Very similar to Atkins. Paleo operates on the theory that we should eat the way our forefathers did (basically, neanderthals), as our bodies haven't changed much since then in terms of the way we process things. So, nothing processed--lots of meat, nuts, veggies, fruits. Dairy is kind of your call. Essentially, if our forefathers could pick it or catch it, you can eat it.
  • Black_Swan
    Black_Swan Posts: 770 Member
    If you need some "rules" and stuff, maybe its a good way to start eating the healthy way. But if you already realize that veggies are healthy and meat should not be fried and soaking in oil, then you already have enough knowledge to start eating more healthy than before...
  • Enigmatica
    Enigmatica Posts: 879 Member
    One of my friends got all excited about it, but lasted like one day on it, lol. I looked at it. Everybody's different. It might be great for some but not for meeeee :)
  • amycal
    amycal Posts: 646 Member
    I can say that the meat of today is not the caveman's meat. Our meat is all domesticated vs wild. Our meat is pumped up with antibioics, and all kinds of chemicals from the herbicided/pesticided grains/grass it eats. Also our meat today has a completely different fat composition compared to what the cave men eat as a result of what I mentioned above.

    One of the important parts of the paleo diet that many people might foget in their excitment to eat an abundance of meat, is that this diet is based on local food sources - advantage. Depending on where you live this can be a disadvantage (i.e. for me living in sourthern ontario does not make this easy as there is very little fresh local produce available throughout the winter months).

    Part of eating what is found locally means that this includes frutis and veggies. It's not all about meat.

    Actually the book I read by Robb something about Paleo did stress eating grass fed meat. Also the local trainer also advocates eating grass, not grain fed meat without antibiotics and hormones. They say that the change in cattle is part of the reason going back to the caveman diet is so important - but advocates of a plant based and/or whole food diet say the same thing.
  • MirandaJayne
    MirandaJayne Posts: 600 Member
    Saw this today. Check it out

    http://www.good.is/post/chart-the-paleolithic-diet-vs-the-modern-american-diet/
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