THE PALEO DIET
YES OR NO?
http://www.realbeauty.life/whatisreal/the-paleo-diet-food-evolution-why-it-changes-everything/2015/8/28
WHAT IS THE PALEO DIET?
The Paleo Diet involves eating foods that
can be hunted and gathered. The philosophy behind this diet is that Homo Sapiens
thousands of years ago were tall, muscular, athletic and versatile but Homo
Sapiens in the 21st century are overweight, out of shape, stressed
and unhappy. ("The Beginner's
Guide to The Paleo Diet | Nerd Fitness", 2010). It is believed that this
is due to agriculture, humans that ate from the earth in it’s closest to pure
form are seen to be the healthiest people among our nation. The paleo diet encourages
individuals to eat the way they are programmed to eat whilst eliminating all
foods that do not reflect this belief.
WHAT FOODS ARE CONSIDERED PALEO?
EAT
|
DON’T EAT
|
Grass-produced
meats
|
Cereal grains
|
Fish/seafood
|
Legumes (this
includes peanuts)
|
Eggs
|
Dairy
|
Nuts and seeds
|
Refined sugar
|
Healthful oils
(olive, walnut, flaxseed, macadamia, avocado, coconut)
|
Potatoes
|
Berries
|
Processed foods
|
Vegetables
|
Salt
|
("What
to Eat on The Paleo Diet | Dr. Loren Cordain", 2016)
PALEO COMPARED TO THE AUSTRALIAN DIETARY GUIDELINES:
Paleo Diet (Cordain, 2015)
|
Australian Dietary Guidelines (p.16,2013)
|
Protein- 19-35%
|
Protein- 15-25%
|
Carbohydrates- 35-45%
|
Carbohydrates- 45-65%
|
Fat- The amount of fat eaten is up to the
individual as there is no specific amount.
|
Fat- 20-35%
|
The Paleo diet shows very different intake
percentages than the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The Paleo Diet suggests
that individuals need 19-35% protein whereas the Australian Dietary Guidelines
suggests we need 15-25% of protein. Protein is broken down in the body into
amino acids that are used to build new proteins which are then delegated around
the body for their specific functions.
The amount of carbohydrates suggested in
the paleo diet is 35-45% the is lower than the Australian Dietary Guidelines as
they suggest 45-65% of carbohydrates are needed. Carbohydrates are used
predominantly for energy. Not having enough carbohydrates can be detrimental to
the body. A low carbohydrate diet is called ketogenic and can be dangerous to
insulin levels in the body. The paleo diet suggests that there is no certain
amount of fat and according to Paleo Leap “you should
probably have as much as you want and it should be your main macronutrient
intake”. ("Paleo Diet FAQ
| Paleo Leap", 2016). This is different to the Australian Dietary
Guidelines as they believe that an individual needs their diet to contain
20-35% of fat. Fats provide over half of the body’s energy requirements; we
also store fat for later use. Overall the Paleo diet has a different outlook on
the percentage of proteins, carbohydrates and fats that the body needs to
function efficiently.
IS THE PALEO DIET A GOOD DIET TO FOLLOW?
The Paleo
Diet defiantly has some positives, eating foods that are only gathered and
hunted can mean an extreme change in a person’s health. Cutting down on
westernised food gives individuals time to appreciate and enjoy food in its
purest form. It also gives one sort of structure to an individual’s diet,
meaning meals will need to be planned ahead to ensure that the diet is
followed. Although this diet has some benefits it also has some negatives. A
high amount of protein and fat can cause adverse effects of individual’s.
Instead of having increasing amounts of these it might be beneficial to add dairy
and refined sugar (in a small amount) into the diet to balance it out. Before
deciding to take part in the Paleo Diet you should always consult your doctor
and discuss with them if this is the best decision for you.
The Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet. (2015). The Paleo Authority. Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://thepaleoauthority.com/2015/10/09/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-paleo-diet/
References
Association, A. (2011). How
the Body Uses Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Fats. Diabetes Forecast.
Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2011/mar/how-the-body-uses-carbohydrates-proteins-and-fats.html
National Health and Medical
Research Council (2013). Australian dietary guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/n55_australian_dietary_guidelines_130530.pdf
Paleo Diet FAQ |
Paleo Leap. (2016). Paleo
Leap | Paleo diet Recipes & Tips. Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://paleoleap.com/paleo-diet-faq/#q23
The Beginner's Guide
To The Paleo Diet | Nerd Fitness. (2010). Nerdfitness.com.
Retrieved 8 May 2016, from https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/10/04/the-beginners-guide-to-the-paleo-diet/
The Paleo Diet:
Eating Like a Caveman. (2016). Mercola.com.
Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/20/paleo-diet.aspx
THE PALEO DIET: FOOD EVOLUTION & WHY IT CHANGES EVERYTHING. (2015). Real Beauty. Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://www.realbeauty.life/whatisreal/the-paleo-diet-food-evolution-why-it-changes-everything/2015/8/28
What to Eat on The
Paleo Diet | Dr. Loren Cordain. (2016). The
Paleo Diet™. Retrieved 8 May 2016, from http://thepaleodiet.com/what-to-eat-on-the-paleo-diet/
