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Last Updated: Oct 23, 2019
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Paleo Diet - Popular or Doubtful?

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Dr. Anjana AgarwalDietitian/Nutritionist • 48 Years Exp.MSc - Food and Applied Nutrition, Ph.D, Aroma Therapist
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Paleo diet is customarily consisted of meat, fish, vegetables and fruits. The name of the diet has its association with the diet consumed by Paleolithic humans thousands of years ago. They ate whatever they could hunt and gather. Fortunately they survived with health and vigour. In quest of good health and freedom from disease today men tried to follow the ancestral diet. However, Paleo diet has failed through nutritional lens due to exclusion of dairy or cereal products and processed food. 

Advancement in medicine and technology has made thousand miles stride in increasing life expectancy but there is no dearth of disease malnutrition and traumatic experiences of obesity. Industry, urbanization, marketing, population hike and climatic change have added oil in the fire. Ground reality focuses on primary biological requirements which are intact. Today the people know that their bodies as well as the environment are being loaded with free radicals, toxins and unwanted residues. They anxiously keep looking forward for some effective solutions. Let us know that how far the popularity of Paleo diet meet the health challenges. It has its own set of advantages and disadvantages alike. 

Advantages of Paleo Diet 

  1. Where the availability and choices of food were varied and limited according to seasons 
  2. Alkaline foods are available which support gut microbiota thus health and wellbeing. 
  3. Sharp reduction in consumption of processed food and sugar
  4. Optimization of insulin within the body thus helps in normalization of blood sugar levels 
  5. Support maintenance of blood pressure 
  6. Decreases in the bad cholesterol in the blood 
  7. Increase in protein intake due to meat consumption 
  8. High intake of micronutrients, fibre and antioxidants via increased consumption of seasonal fruits and vegetables 
  9. Helps to de-addict the person from caffeine, alcohol etc.
  10. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian can select foods. Disadvantages of Paleo diet 
  11. Too restrictive - Many believe that although it is a good diet, but does not support the concept of balanced diet for good nutrition and health due to missed food groups. 
  12. Risk of deficiencies due to non-inclusion of cereals and dairy
  13. Excess of protein due to risk of high intake of meat 
  14. It is difficult for people who subsist on fast food, high sugar and saturated fat

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