More and more diets have become popular in recent years: the vegan diet, intermittent fasting, the vegetarian diet, the ketogenic diet or even the paleo diet to name a few. It can be difficult to get a clear picture of what each of them represents. Although all of these diets consist of eating differently from what we are used to, there is one that promotes a return to the sources of our diet: the Paleolithic diet. But what does this diet consist of? What foods are allowed and prohibited and, above all, is it dangerous for your health in the long term?

What is the Paleolithic diet?

The Paleolithic diet known as “Paleo” is a diet based on the “hunter-fisher-gatherer” principle. That is to say, it consists of eating only foods that people living in the Paleolithic era could have consumed. The goal of this diet is to adopt the diet of our ancestors to, in theory, respect the physiological needs of our body and help it function optimally. According to followers of the paleo diet, our genes have not evolved since the Paleolithic period and our body therefore needs as “raw” a diet as possible. In this context, they recommend abandoning foods that need a minimum of processing from agriculture and the agri-food industry.

Foods allowed on the paleo diet.

The Paleolithic diet was mainly based on products of animal origin and the consumption of fruits and vegetables.

The permitted foods are:

• preferably lean meats from grass-fed animals
• fish and seafood
• eggs
• fruits and vegetables
• nuts
• berries
• unprocessed vegetable oils

It is specified that animals must be grass-fed because the presence of cereals in their diet would mean that humans also consume them indirectly, which is not acceptable in this dietary pattern. Indeed, cereals would be too inflammatory and the increase in blood sugar levels due to their consumption would be too significant. In addition, the muscle tissues of animals fed grass would be richer in omega 3 than those of animals consuming cereals and whose flesh would mainly contain omega 6.

Foods prohibited on the paleo diet.

Prohibited foods are all those that come from the control of agriculture as well as the agro-food industry, that is to say:

• the cereals
• legumes
• vegetable oils
• dairy products
• processed products
• alcohol and coffee
• refined sugars

The paleo diet is therefore a naturally gluten-free diet.

The benefits of the paleo diet.

On the paleo diet, a large portion of your diet is devoted to fruits and vegetables. However, these are essential for good health. From a health point of view, the paleo diet would play a role in the prevention of several diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (consequences of a diet too rich in omega 3 and cold-pressed vegetable oils) but also obesity and of diabetes. Adopting this diet would also relieve certain autoimmune diseases such as celiac disease or rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, following the principles of the paleo diet would, according to users, help with easier weight loss, a reduction in fat mass as well as better physical and intellectual performance and a boost in energy. However, no studies have demonstrated these benefits; These are only testimonials from people following this diet.

The disadvantages of the paleo diet.

The primary disadvantage of this diet is social isolation. It is, in fact, very difficult to follow such a diet in our current society. Additionally, the paleo diet may be deficient or low in certain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium. You could therefore suffer from nutritional deficiencies if you do not follow adequate supplementation. Insufficient intakes of these two elements can, for example, lead to osteoporosis in adults. At Feed., products contain vitamins and minerals such as vitamin D and calcium.

It is also important to note that our current knowledge of the environment and prehistoric diet is not complete. It is therefore impossible to ensure that adopting the paleo diet today is exactly the same thing as when our ancestors ate. Growing children and adolescents are strongly advised not to follow such a restrictive diet. This could have harmful and irreversible effects on their health.

Common questions related to the paleo diet.

Are there any risks to adopting the paleo diet?

Before following any diet, you should find out and talk to a health professional such as a dietitian or your general practitioner. When you follow a diet that advocates the exclusion of a certain food family, you must be aware of the deficiencies that this may cause and adapt accordingly by taking appropriate supplements. What's more, the paleo diet is particularly restrictive, which can lead to frustration. On the other hand, several studies have demonstrated that there are health risks linked to excessive consumption of animal products such as red meat.

Is the paleo diet suitable for athletes?

According to fans of this diet, it could be adapted to sports practice. Indeed, thanks to a reduction in recovery time and a perceived boost in energy, the paleo diet would be completely in line with the lifestyle of athletes. Although these elements are based on the feelings of practitioners of this diet, it is scientifically proven that the paleo diet is rich in omega 3. This aspect is really beneficial for athletes because omega 3 helps limit inflammation phenomena.

However, the drastic reduction in carbohydrate intake associated with the paleo diet could be contradictory with intense and/or medium to long duration physical activity.

Is weight loss possible thanks to the paleo diet?

It is important to remember that weight loss is possible regardless of the diet you follow. The important thing is to be in a calorie deficit situation. That being said, the paleo diet could facilitate weight loss because it requires abandoning starchy foods and consuming more fiber and protein. The latter being nutrients that give you a quick and lasting sensation. Concerning oilseeds, they can be very rich in energy which can hinder weight loss if you consume them in excess. It's all a question of quantity. Be careful, if you suddenly stop following this diet, you may regain the weight you lost, this is called the yoyo effect.

In summary.

The Paleolithic diet is:

• lots of animal protein
• omega 3 and omega 9
• no complex carbohydrates (at this level, it is similar to the “low carb” diet)
• fibers that come exclusively from fruits and vegetables.

It is advisable to seek advice from your doctor before following such a restrictive diet and to be monitored medically to avoid any nutritional deficiencies.