Should you try the Paleo diet in 2013?

That’s the question that Women’s Health is asking you this year.  If you’re one of the people that helped make “Paleo Diet” the most searched for diet in January 2013 then I’ve got some thoughts for you.

photo credit: bill barber via photopin cc

2013 marks the start of my fifth year in Paleo-land, and over the past 4 years there has been much more and better information out there, I’ve learned more, evolved my diet and done a lot of self experimentation.  One thing that has been both exciting and frustrating is the portrayal of Paleo in mainstream media.  Every time I see a Paleo reference in the news, I get excited and a little scared at the same time, since mainstream media tends to put the conventional wisdom lens over the Paleo viewpoint.  Case in point, this review of the Paleo Diet from Women’s Health.

I’m going to summarize and provide comments on the highlighted points of the Pros and Cons outlined in the post.

Women’s Health Pros:

1. It Eliminates Processed Foods
2. It Increases Lean Protein
3. It Promotes Fruits and Vegetables

My Thoughts on the Pros:

1. It Eliminates Processed Foods – This is a true representation of what real Paleo is, and I agree that this is a good thing.  Focus eating on REAL food and you look, feel, and perform better in addition to improving your overall health.
2. It Increases Lean Protein – Paleo focuses on high quality proteins, ideally from grass-fed and pastured sources, which tend to be higher in vitamins, minerals, and lower in fat.  The statements about blood sugar regulation, maintaining muscle, and burning fat are all true statements but I’m wouldn’t attribute it to only eating lean protein.
3. It Promotes Fruits and Vegetables – Duh, this one is a no brainer – when most people tell me they eat healthy foods they tell me that they eat fruits and vegetables….I think this should say vegetables and fruits….but that’s a topic for another day

Women’s Health Cons:

1. It Cuts Out Healthy Food Groups
2. It Includes Too Much Meat 
3. It’s Very Difficult

My Thoughts on the Cons:

1. It Cuts Out Healthy Food Groups – I don’t agree that grains, legumes, dairy and processed sugars are healthy – principally Paleo focuses on real foods, foods that are anti-inflammatory, low in sugar, and low in anti-nutrients.  I’m also sick of the calcium question -  calcium from dairy doesn’t build your bones because the acid of the dairy outweighs the calcium in the foods we eat – if you take a look at the data you’ll find that the US has the highest dairy consumption along with the highest propensity for osteoporosis…so clearly we’re missing something here.  You can get lots of vitamins and minerals from vegetables, which are alkaline, which means that smaller amounts are needed since your body isn’t leaching minerals from your bones to rebalance your body.
2. It Includes Too Much Meat – I’m not sure why they decided to list consuming meats as both a pro and a con, but this is another fallacy or misinterpretation of the Paleo diet.  My Paleo diet is 50%+ fat and moderate in protein, and I try to focus on high quality sources most of the time.  No I’m not perfect and can’t eat 100% organic or grass-fed all of the time, but I do more often than not which still adds up and makes a difference.
3. It’s Very Difficult– It’s difficult??  Says who?  Thanks for putting this idea into people’s heads!  I like to think about Paleo as changing what you select from a buffet line, it’s changing your tastes, you used to take the pasta option, now you choose grilled fish and ask for extra guacamole.  Think of Paleo as different, but different in a good way because everything you’ve done to date hasn’t worked over time otherwise why would you be Googling to find a new diet anyway? It doesn’t have to be difficult, but it is different, from the standard American diet and from what other people that are “dieting” eat, but I think that is a good thing!

Photo from Women’s Health

My Overall Thoughts….

I love Robb Wolf’s “greasy used car salesman pitch” as he calls it, give Paleo a try for 30 days and see how you look, feel, and perform.  Then make the call.  But do it right, and be 100% committed.  Trying Paleo while still eating ice cream, having bread, over indulging in alcohol and then not seeing results or feeling better isn’t giving it a fair shake.  Would you claim to be following a vegetarian diet while still having bacon and the occasional hamburger?  Of course not.

When you boil it down to the basics Paleo is focusing on eating real, high quality food, there are no products to buy or magic pills.  It’s as simple as eating real food all of the time.  Unfortunately our society and culture is not so far removed from eating real food that following a Paleo diet instead of eating pop-tarts and instant oatmeal is the thing that feels weird.

What are your thoughts on the Paleo Diet?  Is it something that you’re willing to give a try in 2013?