What’s the deal
Also known as the caveman diet, the high protein and fibre rich Paleo diet aims to eat as our ancestors did. The thinking is that to combat the diseases of our time, like obesity and high cholesterol, we should revert back to eating like hunter-gatherer cavemen did.
This means no processed food, dairy or grains, and lots of grass-fed meat, raw nuts, fruit and vegetables. If you have trouble following diets that require counting calories or macronutrients, it can be a good choice as the guidelines are very simple, and it has been
shown to work.
The pros
You won’t be eating anything with preservatives, chemicals or additives, which we could all stand to cut out. Because you are eating a lot of protein, fats and fibre you will feel fuller for longer and need to eat less. You will lose weight, mainly due to the extremely limited food selection you’re allowed to choose from. However, the general consensus is that paleo easier than many other diets to sustain in the longer term.
The cons
This diet is not for the faint-hearted; it’s hard. People have reported an exhausted and groggy feeling for the first few weeks, however afterwards you start to feel super energised and clear-headed. You could also experience the ‘low-carb flu’ for three to four weeks which you are at risk of when beginning any new diet that drastically cuts down your carb intake.
As it has a heavy emphasis on natural whole foods like grass fed beef, free-range eggs and organic vegetables, it can be pricy.