There has been a lot of talk about the Paleo diet...some pro, some con. Whether you like eating like our ancestors or not, there have been a number of criticisms leveled at this method of eating that are not truly valid. Here are the top 5:
1. All of our Paleolithic ancestors died by the time they were 30. How successful could that diet be?
While the comment about the early death of these people is valid, the reasoning is a bit skewed. Let's be real, here. They lived in a very dangerous time: an incredibly high infant mortality rate, no ER care and lots of tribal warfare, to mention a few problems. When taking these variables out of the equation, studies show that these people lived about the same amount of time as modern man and, more importantly, without showing any signs of diabetes, heart disease or other chronic illnesses that plague our world.
2. This diet is dangerous because of its high protein content.
You might be surprised to learn that research does not bear out this statement. A high protein diet is defined as 0.7 gms of protein per kilogram of body weight and has been shown to cause kidney damage in those with pre-existing kidney problems, only. Also, one doesn't need to eat red meat in this diet, at all, if they so choose. My problem with red meat is that it's full of genetically modified hormones, unless it's organic. Also, no one should eat only one source of protein, whether it be meat, poultry, fish, seafood or vegetable.
3. Whole grains are "super foods," and thus necessary for our diet.
Interestingly enough, we are finding that grains can be problematic, especially if eaten in large quantities. They contain a fairly high simple carbohydrate content and have been shown to interfere with cognition. A diet high in essential fatty acids is much more beneficial to brain activity and cardiovascular health than grains. I'm not saying you shouldn't eat any grains, I, personally, really enjoy quinoa grain, but that this idea that you should be eating a significant amount of them is simply not borne out by research.
4. Paleo is an all-meat diet.
In reality, our ancestors ate more vegetables and foraged for whatever grasses/grains they could find than they did meat. Taking down wild beasts with bare hands or, eventually, effective rudimentary weapons, wasn't very easy...thus contributing to their abbreviated life span. The proportions recommended in this diet are: two-thirds plants (including some seeds and nuts and berries) and one-third protein.
I recommend about the same proportions to all my patients, especially to those who wish to re-balance their body's pH from acidic to alkaline.
5. Paleo is a "fad" diet.
This is pretty funny in light of man's history. It's only recently that we have gotten away from eating fresh, wholesome, non-polluted foods (GMO and fertilized, pesticide ridden)... primarily vegetable/fruit/nuts/seeds/fish/meat based. If you think of history as a meter stick, humans have been eating as hunter-gatherers for 99.5 centimeters and eating the modern diet for only .5 centimeter. What an improvement we have made...processed, genetically modified, refined sugar, dairy and simple carbohydrate-diet....yum. Add to that tobacco and alcohol and you have yourself a civilization that needs pharmaceuticals to survive....for a little while.
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