Does Science Back Up the Paleo Diet?

Fans of the paleo-diet are very dedicated ones. They report not only looking better, but also feeling better. Trace looks at whether this is just a passing fad, or if it deserves a closer look.

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Natural History Highlight- Investigating the Diet of Neanderthals

"Although no one can be sure what caused the Neanderthals to disappear, many theories have been proposed. One of those theories suggests that Neanderthals had a very focused diet."

The Paleo Diet: Caveman Cure-All or Unhealthy Fad?

"The idea of the Paleo diet has been around for decades, but it's really taken off over the last couple of years, with a slew of books, blogs, and a prominent podcast espousing its virtues. And no wonder—it has a compelling sales pitch."

The Beneficial Effects of a Paleolithic Diet on Type 2 Diabetes and Other Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease

"A 2009 report by Jönsson and colleagues in Cardiovascular Diabetology has highlighted the potential benefits of a Paleolithic diet for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). "

What's Wrong with the [____] Diet?

"From Oprah's liquid diet to Atkins' low carb diet, there are tons of fad diets out there each with plenty of health claims and scant scientific evidence to support them. A lot of these diets promise greater weight loss. These claims are unsubstantiated."

FOR INFORMATION ON THE PALEO DIET:

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[wordsmatter]

All I know is that Paleo helped me loose weight, keep it off, and get rid of pre-diabetes. I am off my meds and healthier than ever. So the paleo diet is all for me! 

[ashleycasey]

Humans never mutated to eat dairy products at all. Nearly 3/4th of the global population is intolerant to lactose. And to add, we also aren't doing too hot on our high-sugar/ high-fat diet right now, with terrible teeth, weaker bones, and smaller brains. Suggesting that we can revamp our entire digestive track in 10, 000 (out of evolving for over a million) is ridiculous. 

[Shack]

Just want to add that "No Grains" does not equal "No Carbs". You get carbs from many other sources including Yams and veggies. It is not a diet for losing weight like Atkins is. Losing weight is one of the benefits, but it is more so for overall health. Also there is more Calcium in Spinach than in Milk. But do your own research, most neutral and anti Paleo information out there misses a lot of these points and doesn't give actual nutritional information.

[rainflake]

If it feels good to quit/add any food, do it! We all come from different regions of paleolithic ancestry, and the Paleo diet kinda keeps you on the safest side of what foods your body is evolved to process well. :)

[rangerscout]

how are you saying low carb when you can eat fruit???

[Vhc]

Wow, Paleo doesn't mean low carb. There are many different flavors of Paleo, and you just have to find out what works for your lifestyle.

Also, our ancestors may have eaten SOME grains and corn, but they didn't put it in 90% of the food they ate. THAT is the true problem with the standard American diet.

[LynneSkysong]

I'm hypoglycemic and have low (but not quite anemic) levels of iron. Because of this, I've found that the best way to stay healthy is to eat when I'm hungry, eat when I'm very irritated (low sugar indicator for me), eat red meat (high iron) and avoid consuming sugary food in isolation to avoid crashing.I've never been able to "diet" and lose weight. I eat more when I exercise to avoid crashing and have stayed at the same (somewhat overweight) weight for years. Feeling heathy >>. losing weight

[antonioskontonasakis]

he just said that the diet cuts calcium which hinders bone development, but I just watched a DNews episode saying calcium plays a very small role in bone development

[Vidarsti]

Eating a Paleo Diet is promoting world hunger. “People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing to the practice. According to this logic, we should not try to prevent people from murdering other people, since this has also been done since the earliest of times" ~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

[HaroldCrews]

I eat paleo mostly and have had good results from it. At my last physical in January the PA said keep doing whatever it is I'm doing.

[johnquillinan]

I've been experimenting on myself for over 4 years, currently my diet consists of 50-60% fat, 20-30% protein and the rest in carbohydrates, mostly fibrous (this is similar to paleo, however I do not exclude diary, nor do I exclude all processed foods.)
I have lost 107 pounds, gained muscle mass with little effort (10-20 minute weight training 1-3x per week.) and my lipid profiles have improved dramatically, which is partially due to weight loss. Triglycerides have dropped by over 100 (still need work), HDL has gone up, LDL has gone down and total cholesterol has maintained in healthy levels.
The articles I have reviewed support these findings. I also consume very large amounts of cholesterol (approx 800-1200mg per day.) Which has not caused any noticeable issues with my lipid profile.

So, yeah. That.

[lcuthbert]

I found that simply keeping track of calories in/calories out was super-effective to lose weight. And a little shocking to find out what that handful of nuts cost, calorie wise...

[Geminosity]

not sure if you guys check vids this old, but any chance of looking into 180 health / "eat for heat" or the whole ray peat movement? :3

[shirehorse]

Early modern humans and other hominids didn't grow large fields of grains. They would consume some for a short period of time, but it definitely wasn't a regular part of their diet like it is today. 

[ashtheraccoon]

I haven't gained a pound since starting on both the Paleo and the alternate day fasting diets and I feel great!

[MichaelCook]

just wondering, how many doctors and scientist are overweight from eating high amounts or carbs, grains, refined oils, and sugars. The USDA has been pushing their food pyramid for decades, and yet 2/3 of Americans are over weight. How much of these scientific studies are government funded? Paleo isn't the end all be all perfect diet. It's about avoiding foods that cause digestive issues, and immflamation, and other issues. I follow the spirit of the paleo diet, but still eat dairy, some grains (rice, oats, quoina.) It's more about eating healthy foods instead of crap out of a box, freezer meals, avoiding gmo products.

[primoshunter]

I'm gonna make my own diet and name it the Farmer's Diet. Basically anything that a farmer would eat in the 70s is healthy 

[johnfadds]

Please explain how did the Neanderthal eat wheat and barley?

[AutisticVlad]

I do the Don't eat like a bloody Hippo diet and it works.

[charlietuba]

Only half of America is on a diet. Diet is what you eat. Example there is the SEE FOOD DIET: You see food you eat it.