Is the Palaeolithic Diet for you?

Here’s a thought… the best human diet is the one to which we are best genetically adapted.  Or is it?  The Palaeolithic Diet is purported to be the world’s healthiest diet, supported by scientific evidence and many real-life triumphs.  So, what’s it all about?

The basic premise of the Palaeolithic (spelt Paleolithic in the US and commonly referred to as “Paleo”) Diet is that our genetic composition hasn’t substantially changed in the last 2 million years, but mass-agriculture and industrial age food have significantly changed our diets.  There’s a very real “evolutionary discordance” between our modern diet and the hunter and gatherer diet of our ancestors, who existed primarily on lean meats, seafood, fruits, vegetables and nuts.

The principles are pretty straightforward, if not a little controversial.  Here are the basics:

1. Palaeolithic people hardly ate cereal grains (they were considered “starvation food”)
2. Palaeolithic people ate no dairy food (they had few or no domesticated animals that could be milked)
3. Palaeolithic people only ate refined sugar in the form or honey (when they were lucky enough to find it)
4. Palaeolithic people didn’t add salt their food
5. Palaeolithic people consumed lean animal foods regularly (they had a fairly high protein intake)
6. Palaeolithic people ate lots of natural non-starchy carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables (all high in fibre)

Depending on your own dietary preferences and requirements, you’ll probably find holes in this kind of diet pretty quickly!  (I’ve made some personal recommendations below.)  But an increasing number of people are some very impressive health benefits, including:*

• Freedom from acne
• Improve athletic performance
• Slow the progression of autoimmune diseases
• Reduce or eliminate the risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other lifestyle diseases
• A longer, healthier, more active life

This all sounds fantastic, and if only it was that simple!  But, I think, the reality for many people will be that maintaining the Paleo Diet is tricky, frustrating and inhibiting.  I also think it’s possible to achieve many health benefits with some simpler and less drastic changes.

DON’T cut grains completely, whole grains are a fantastic source of low burning energy, they’re high in fibre and contain many vital nutrients.  DO cut refined grains though!

DON’T cut dairy, it’s a great source of calcium, protein and vitamins A and B12.  DO include 2-3 servings a day of varied low-fat dairy.  E.g. skim milk with breakfast, cheese on crackers at lunch and a pro-biotic yoghurt for desert.

DON’T forget that honey is a fantastic natural sweetener and that there are many varieties (i.e. tastes!) to choose from.  DO remember you are allowed the occasional treat though, so enjoy products containing refined sugar in moderation.

DON’T up your protein intake from lean meat alone when there are other great sources, like nuts and seeds, pulses and eggs.  DO choose lean meats and trim any visible fat of meat before cooking.

DON’T cut starchy carbohydrates completely, foods like sweet potato, yams and even potatoes have their place in a varied diet.  DO be wise to the GI and GL of your favourite starchy foods, and include them in your diet accordingly.

There certainly is plenty of food for thought in the Paleo Diet principles, so I welcome your comments on this one!  Paleo Diet is a great source of more information, if you’re interested.

All the best,

Jill

* As published by Paleo Diet, on their website.