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A lot of sugar plus too much processed foods are only a couple of factors that are now being charged for causing the diets of individuals everywhere, and especially the Western World, into triggering an increase in chronic diseases. It could be stated we live for a longer time than every civilization in history, but a significant portion of that has to do with additional circumstances besides diet. Modern day food intake has evolved to one which makes food a pleasure to eat and easier to grow, but our bodies certainly haven't progressed to the stage that we can manage this evolutionary method of consumption. So many people have turned to an eating plan that attempts to harken back to such times when we ate a really naturally-occurring food intake. It is called the Paleo Diet, and it's also resulting in quite a lot of controversy among so-named diet professionals. US News & World Report as part of their 2014 rankings of diets put it at tied for last of 31 diet programs. Why would a diet that omits sugar and processed foods (there wasn't much food processing occurring in the Paleolithic era) be considered a diet to steer clear of? Let us examine the advantages and disadvantages of this diet plan. The Paleo Diet bases itself on the diet which our hunter-gatherer ancestors consumed, which was lean animal meat, non-starch vegetables, fresh fruit and fish and shellfish. Even those similar types of foods that are a part of what we eat today are not identical. For example, much of our fish contains toxic contamination they've picked up within the water they dwell in, and much of our vegetables and fruits have cross-bred therefore their hybrids are not the same like they had been in past centuries. Those food products taste superior and are disease resistant, which makes production techniques much more proficient, but we are just learning the nutritional costs. Perhaps even more significant is really what this diet hasn't got. Together with eliminating the sugars and highly processed foods in the modern diets, which essentially nobody will argue against, it also calls for reducing grains and dairy. For several diet experts this might be stepping over the line of good dietary practices. This undoubtedly could cause some problems for many people. Another potential question will be its high quantity of protein. The Paleo Diet applies a lot of protein in our diet, and when our ancestors were being chased by sabre toothed tigers they could have needed it. Today for most of us maybe not so much, so perhaps an alteration is required there. Carbs could be one more question. Most people normally eat too many carbohydrates, but with cutting those to the point where the Paleo Diet would like them, especially for folks whose health is not the best might adversely impact blood lipids. It is hard to agree that this diet has a lot to offer, but it most likely does not check all of the nutritional boxes we need to check. The argument against it will be that it is too limiting to address every one of our nutritional deficiencies, and it also is unrealistic for the ordinary American to follow. Add in the fact that there exists hardly any research to support its benefits, and it is probably not something we ought to go all in with. Where you carry your weight has a lot to do with your overall health, as it is a marker for issues having to do with the kidneys and liver. Read more about how to put on good weight through diet and exercise on our website http://muscle4weightloss.com/. Jim O'Connell is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.
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