Is the diet right for you?

Few diets have been getting as much attention as of late as the Paleo diet, which is based on what our ancestral progenitors ate (i.e meat, nuts, greens, and seasonal fruit). It’s a popular, but controversial diet, so we decided to turn to the expert, Robb Wolf, and read his book “The Paleo Solution” to get the lowdown on the latest eating craze. Here are 10 notable things we picked up along the way.

1. In addition to dietary changes, to see results it’s crucial to get enough sleep and develop a sustainable fitness routine (Wolf gives tips on how to do this).

2. Grass-fed ruminants and wild-caught fish have noticeably greater nutritional benefits.

3. “If a conventional eater wanted to embrace a more moderate version of the Paleo diet, simply avoiding all grains, as well as all liquid calories (juices, sugary coffee drinks, etc.), would be a great first step.”*

4. “If folks are willing to give a Paleo diet an earnest try for 30 days, they find the cravings for modern, processed foods tend to decrease, and adherence is quite easy.”

5. “Although the Paleo diet advocates the consumption of animal products, it is a thoughtful way of eating congruent with both ethics and sustainability, and I make this a large part of the education I provide.”

6. Low fat is not always better.

7. Clean healthy fats from grass-fed or wild animals (i.e. no factory-farmed animals), are at the core of the Paleo diet.

8. While vegans and vegetarians have been fighting the popularity of the Paleo diet, aside from being focused on mindful eating of animal products, the Paleo diet also advocates eating vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts (it excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oils).

9. Genetically our bodies are virtually the same as they were at the end of the Paleolithic era 20,000 years ago.

10. Compared to ancestral humans, modern humans often have substantially less lean muscle…time to hit the gym ladies!

*all quotes from Robb Wolf

Dish with us: Would you give the Paleo diet a 30 day whirl?