Food | Is a Paleo diet good or bad?

The Paleo diet has been around for some time but with celebrities and health gurus now endorsing it, the food trend has been high on the agenda. But is this diet good or bad for you?

As with all diets, there are as many advocates as there are critics. The Paleo diet, however, receives a little more attention than others. The reason? The emphasis on protein and exclusion of diary is one of the key debating factors. Critics point to the many studies linking the risk of cancer and consuming too much animal protein.

Despite these warnings, many swear by the many benefits that the lifestyle offers. Cutting out dairy, gluten and grains from your diet can result in improved mood, increased energy levels, better sleep and healthier skin and hair.

Two poster ladies for this food trend are actresses Jessica Biel and Megan Fox; is it any wonder many of us want to try out this diet?

There are many pros and cons of this diet, factors that must be considered before you embrace this new eating pattern.

First, the diet is restrictive and confusing. As the diet cuts out several food groups, it may be hard to sustain in the long-term. There are also many variations to this diet so it can be difficult to follow.

The diet can also be high in saturated fat. While eating such fats (in bacon, steaks, coconut oil) may not be as big of as an evil as once thought, overdoing it can obviously be harmful and especially to your heart. Instead, opt for leaner meats and fish, as well as oils containing healthy unsaturated fats like olive and walnut.

The fact that this diet shuns processed food is one of its biggest positives. This gets you cooking more fresh, whole foods. While it cuts out grains and legumes, this diet is heavy on vegetables and fruits so you end up getting plenty of fibre and healthy carbohydrates. Your calcium intake also increases as you consumer more dark leafy greens, as well as almond and coconut milk.

This diet emphasizes consuming the highest quality proteins you can find, such as grass-fed beef, wild game meats, wild-caught seafood etc.

The jury is still out on this diet, with research needed to make definitive health claims. However, there are healthy ways to interpret and follow this diet. It involves a lot of planning and weekend meal prep. The key to embracing it, as with all diets, is to eat a lot of variety foods within the ‘allowed’ spectrum and not to overdo it on any one food group/