Should you go Paleo?

Is our quest for better health hidden in the past? Some say cavemen have the answer…So, should you go Paleo?

Fed up with fad diets and short-lived successes? More and more people are wising up to the notion that the real trick to looking and feeling good for life means opting for a lifestyle tweak rather than a quick-fix diet craze or weight-loss pill.

The Paleo, or ‘caveman’ diet as it’s also known, has been around for a while. Founded by Dr. Loren Cordain and loved by CrossFitters, it really rose to popularity in 2013 when it was the most searched for diet trend on Google. You don’t have to be a gym-bunny to try it though. It’s still very much a key diet trend this year, so for anyone that hasn’t heard of the Paleo diet, let us get you up to speed.

Short for Paleolithic (think hunter-gatherer type Tarzan men in furry pants and you’re in the right sort of area), the diet is derived from that of our ancestors, long before we had invented additives, even before the agricultural industry was born.

What: The basics of this diet are that if you can hunt it, or find it in nature, you can eat it.  So meat, fish, eggs, veggies, fruit (in moderation) and nuts are all fine. Dairy, grains and refined sugars however, all get the boot. There are varying degrees of strictness when following a Paleo diet, but that’s the bare bones of it.

Benefits: So why is it so popular? Pioneers of the diet believe that our modern diet is responsible for many ‘modern’ illnesses and that many of these can be avoided by following this way of eating. Similarly, advocates boast many health benefits from switching to a Paleo lifestyle, including weight loss, more energy and better digestion.

As with any diet, the Paleo diet also has its critics, some say it is too restrictive, particularly that cutting out dairy can lead to certain deficiencies. It’s also extremely important to consider your own personal circumstances before making any drastic dietary changes and we would always recommend you OK it with a GP or dietician to work out what’s best for your individual needs and goals.

If you’d like more info, check out The Paleo Diet website  or we like this cool Paleo blog which has loads of recipes you can try http://www.rubiesandradishes.com. There’s also plenty of available bedtime reading. Dr Cordain’s book, The Paleo Diet is available on amazon  or check out Christopher Clark’s new book, The Nutritional Grail .

Have you tried the Paleo diet? Got any cool recipes? Let us know @WeHeartLiving.