Wow, there is a lot of hype about the Paleo Diet these days. I know this nutrition and lifestyle program has truly has helped tons of people so I have many positive things to say about it. On the other hand, it is not a healthy fit for many people as well. I’m here to give you my viewpoints as an experienced professional in this field (Registered Dietitian, Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and Yoga Instructor).
PALEO 101: In a nutshell, the Paleo Diet is based on the ancient diet of Cavemen which consists of food that they hunted or gathered, like meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, veggies and fruit. Since cavemen did not have grains, legumes, dairy and processed foods available back then, they are not part of the program.
PRO’s
- Overall, the foods allowed on this program are nourishing for you (meats, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, veggies and fruits in moderation).
- The Paleo Diet recommends clean eating with grass fed and pastured meats, eggs, and wild-caught seafood.
- There are some wonderful Paleo Cookbooks out there. In fact, these are 2 of my favorite Paleo Recipes: Almond Banana Pancakes and Sundried Tomato Chicken Bake
- Being Paleo is a way of life that includes consistent physical activity, such as Crossfit. This form of exercise emphasizes briefer periods of high intensity strength building instead of non-stop cardio.
CON’s:
- In my opinion, this is definitely a Low Carb, High Protein Diet. If you workout hard, have stressed adrenals or a damaged metabolism, this way of eating is not right for you!
- The Paleo Diet is too restrictive and is unrealistic for most people. I believe it would be helpful to expand your options on this diet to include some healthy grains and legumes.
- When researching tons of Paleo recipes, there is way too much saturated fat from animals. I believe in healthy fats from nuts and seeds, but too much animal fat is detrimental to your health!
- Due to the high consumption of animal meat on this program, it tends to be acidic for the body. High acidic foods, like too many meats, are disease promoting.
BETSY’s BOTTOMLINE: Like I said, there are many positives to the Paleo Diet and lifestyle so there’s no reason to start from scratch. We can just balance it out better by making some small changes. Make sure to balance meals and snacks with complex carbs, like starchy veggies, legumes, whole grains, or some fruit. On the flip side, make sure not to overdo the protein, especially meats. As for fats, most fats and oils should come from non-meat sources, such as olive oil, coconut oil, nuts and seeds.
What you should do next …
✅ Register for my Nutrition Class: 3 Realistic Solutions to Rev Your Metabolism so you can Drop Weight Naturally Without Deprivation. And after class, you will receive a gift (My Favorite Balanced Breakfast Recipe Book). I recommend you register early; spaces are limited!
✅ Sign-up for my 3-Day Eating Reset: Tame your sugar cravings without feeling deprived. You will receive my step-by-step guide to stabilize your blood sugar with a done-for-you menu plan, simple recipes, and shopping list.
✅ Schedule a FREE Metabolism Mastery Call: This is a no pressure phone conversation with our health coaches. Let’s dive into your specific challenges and goals to figure out what next steps are best for you.
About the Author
Hello, I’m Betsy Markle. I’m a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Nutritionist with over 20 years of experience. Living a busy life with 3 kids and a passionate career, I understand the importance of realistic nutrition, exercise, and balanced living.
Women tend to put the needs of everyone else before their own. My passion is to empower women to create a healthy lifestyle that they love and can stick with forever.
Here at Sunshine Wellness, we are proud to help women lose weight effortlessly, overcome cravings, and revive energy so they can heal their metabolism, ditch the diet mentality, and love their bodies.
