Free Essay Example on Paleo Diet

Introduction

A paleo diet match food eaten during the Paleolithic period. Examples include; meat, fish, fruits, vegetables—the type of food available then. The diet has other names like the stone age diet, hunter-gatherer diet, or the caveman man diet (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). Ten thousand years ago, people did not produce dairy products, legumes, and grains (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). The many diets we have today are because of farming and modernization. The paper details the following; the paleo diet, its purposes, nutrition composition, strength and weakness, and how it compares to dietary guidelines.

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The Diet and Its Purpose

The purpose of the diet is to get back to old ways of eating. The reason is that modern foods out of farming have changed the way human beings are genetically conditioned. The idea is described as the discordance hypothesis. In the stone age days, people never ate grains. Farming introduced rapid changes in the diet, and the human body is unable to cope (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). This mismatch is said to cause diseases and conditions like obesity, diabetes, heart diseases. Points in Terms of Nutrition

The diet has foods to avoid and what to eat. A paleo diet has no whole grains and processed foods. A paleo diet includes; meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, tubers, nuts, and seeds (Gunnars, 2018). The highest portion is proteins and vitamins. The diet does not have a lot of carbohydrates in it. The nutritionists recommend several things to avoid on this diet. Such foods include grains, legumes, dairy products, refined sugars, salt, and processed foods (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). In this diet, the focus is to eat like people in the stone age. The processed drinks and other junk foods are not encouraged in the paleo diet.

The Diet Plan, Strengths, and Weaknesses

The diet plan is straightforward. Its program is easy to follow. Many nutritionists and nurses advise people to follow a diet plan like this; breakfast to have salmon and cantaloupe. Lunch to have pork, lemon juice, tomatoes, and cucumber. Dinner to have lean beef, onions, avocado, tomatoes, broccoli, and salad (Gunnars, 2018). It helps in the following; improve glucose tolerance, the regulation of the blood pressure, and weight loss (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). Other benefits include lower triglycerides and assistance in appetitive management. The diet has bodybuilding foods and its rich in vitamins. Therefore, the body can fight disease and repair the worn-out parts (Orenstein & Kennedy, 2019). The biggest challenge of the diet is that it lacks energy giving foods. The whole grains are the primary sources of energy and lack in this diet.

Paleo Diet Compared to Dietary Guidelines

A paleo diet has foods rich in vitamins and natural oils, which all of them are healthy. The only difference the paleo does not have grains and legumes (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020). The foods are an excellent source of fiber and vitamins. Again, it does not have the dairy products which provide calcium and protein. Dietary guidelines emphasize that a balanced diet should have all types of foods. Carbohydrates, vitamins, fats, and proteins should be there (Orenstein & Kennedy, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, a paleo diet is taking us back to the stone age, where there were no processed foods and whole grains. For proper functioning of the body, all kinds of foods need to be present in any meal. It can help achieve wellness and good health. The people in the stone age had good health and no lifestyle diseases like we have today.

References

Gunnars, K. (2018). The Paleo Diet — A Beginner’s Guide + Meal Plan. Healthline. Retrieved 13 September 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/paleo-diet-meal-plan-and-menu#section2.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020). Paleo diet: Eat like a cave dweller and lose weight. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 13 September 2020, from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/paleo-diet/art-20111182.

Orenstein, B., & Kelly, Kennedy, R. (2019). Paleo Diet 101: Beginner’s Guide of What to Eat and How It Works | Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com. Retrieved 13 September 2020, from
https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/the-paleo-diet.aspx.