The Pros And Cons Of The Paleo Diet

Eating like a Neanderthal may not sound encouraging at first, but the Paleo lifestyle has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. The Paleo diet been heavily advertised as decreasing the risk of chronic diet-related illnesses, but misconceptions do exist when it comes to this specific type of clean-eating. The “Paleo” or Paleolithic diet stems from the caveman era, where humans consumed raw meats and fresh vegetables (Ballantyne, 2014). This nutrient dense diet is thought to mimic the lifestyle of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. However, these diets varied depending on the location of the Paleolithic groups. Historically, protein came from wild game hunting and fishing, while fruits and vegetables were grown (“The Fish and Game

Health conscious individuals may find that cutting out certain food groups is a major risk to one’s physical health. Legumes are excluded from the Paleo diet and this has caused some controversy. Critics strongly believe that omitting certain food groups isn’t the best way to go about a healthier lifestyle (Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet, 2016). If cavemen didn’t enjoy lentil soup, is that reason enough to eliminate them? Legumes, or “beans” are a staple for many people across the globe, but the Paleo diet strongly discourages the consumption of legumes due the negative impact it can have on the digestive system. Herbivores such as cows and deer can digest phytic acid, while humans cannot. The problem with phytic acid is that it binds to nutrients which makes it difficult for the body to absorb them. This becomes an issue when eating foods rich in phytic acid are the basis for

On the other hand, other food items considered to be “Paleo-friendly” have greater amounts of phytic acid than legumes (HuffPost citation- add). This doesn’t make much sense at all, which is why critics don’t approve of canceling out food groups because there are less nutrient-rich foods that are recommended under the Paleo diet. This diet can be troublesome for vegetarians, especially since beans are prohibited (Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet, 2016). The list of approved foods isn’t extensive, which may make it a bit more difficult to stay within the recommended guidelines. Dr. Hertzler points this out when he states, “A shortcoming of Paleo diets is the complete elimination of entire food groups, which unnecessarily restricts variety and makes it more difficult to eat a balanced diet. Examples of nutrient-dense foods to avoid include dairy products, oats, wheat, corn, rice, quinoa, soybeans, peanuts, lentils, potatoes and chickpeas (Hertzler, 2014).” The Paleo diet may have some flaws, but several benefits accompany this lifestyle especially when it comes to one’s overall