What is the paleo diet? The paleo diet is sometimes called the “caveman” diet. It is based on foods people could get by gathering and hunting in a time period before farming. It is a high protein, moderate fat diet. People on the paleo diet eat plants and animals, rather than a modern diet.

Personal Story

Since I must eat gluten and dairy free, I have found many menu items from my paleo cookbook. There are some really good foods on the acceptable list!

The Paleo Basics

What foods can a person eat on the diet? What foods should they avoid?

Enjoy:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Meats- beef, poultry, lamb, pork
• Fish
• Eggs
• Healthy Fats- unrefined, virgin coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, sesame oil, etc.

Avoid:

• Dairy
• Grain
• Legumes
• Processed foods
• Starches
• Alcohol

The Pros and Cons

There are pros to the paleo diet.

• Rather than the modern diet of processed foods, processed dairy, and processed grains, the diet focuses on real food.
• Eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, and proteins is a healthy way to nourish the body.
• Healthy fats are encouraged.
• There is a high amount of protein.
• There is less inflammation created by this diet.

Cons to the diet:

• Eliminating several whole food groups can cause a shortage of nutrients in the body.
• Eliminating legumes and grains greatly reduces fiber which can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
• The diet can be expensive. Grass-fed meats and nuts are more expensive than whole grains and legumes.

My Take on the Paleo Diet

I would not choose to eat a paleo diet all the time. It might be useful for a season to reduce inflammation. Paleo cookbooks can give you recipe ideas that are beneficial fora gluten and dairy-free diet. I think the cons outweigh the pros for a long-term adherence to the diet.

Action

The paleo diet is a popular, but highly controversial diet. It has some healthy components, but overall is not a good choice for most people. Enjoy the foods on the paleo diet but add whole grains and legumes for fiber and other nutrients.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. What do you think about eating Paleo?