Posted: May 15, 2010 7:41 pm
CandiceTu,
Here is a good medical review. It's freely available as a full text article. A fragment:
The references at the end are also worth a read; most provide free abstracts in PubMed.
It is true, as you say, that a strictly Paleo diet is impossible for us westerners who don't fish nor hunt nor grow our own vegetables. It is possible, however, to follow the general principles. That is: eat vegetables, nuts, fruit, meat, fish, eggs. Limit refined carbs, salt, and all processed foods - or eliminate them entirely.
This diet consistently reduces:
- cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure
- diabetes type 2
- excess weight
- chronic inflammatory diseases
Another important "ingredient" of the Paleo lifestyle is exercise. Our ancestors spent probably hours per day running --from their predators and as hunters themselves. It was their ability to outrun prey (by staying at the task for hours ) that gave them a survival advantage, I have recently read.
So, a Paleo-like diet plus exercise seem the best natural ways to remain healthy. Oh, and add dark chocolate to that. For the antioxidants
Here is a good medical review. It's freely available as a full text article. A fragment:
The typical Paleolithic diet compared with the average modern American diet contained 2 to 3 times more fiber, 1.5 to 2.0 times more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, 4 times more ω-3 fats, but 60% to 70% less saturated fat. Protein intake was 2 to 3 times higher, and potassium intake was 3 to 4 times higher; however, sodium intake was 4 to 5 times lower. Finally, the Paleolithic diet contained no refined grains and sugars (except for seasonally available honey). Clearly, the ongoing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases is at least in part due to these striking discrepancies between the diet we are designed to eat and what we eat today.
The references at the end are also worth a read; most provide free abstracts in PubMed.
It is true, as you say, that a strictly Paleo diet is impossible for us westerners who don't fish nor hunt nor grow our own vegetables. It is possible, however, to follow the general principles. That is: eat vegetables, nuts, fruit, meat, fish, eggs. Limit refined carbs, salt, and all processed foods - or eliminate them entirely.
This diet consistently reduces:
- cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure
- diabetes type 2
- excess weight
- chronic inflammatory diseases
Another important "ingredient" of the Paleo lifestyle is exercise. Our ancestors spent probably hours per day running --from their predators and as hunters themselves. It was their ability to outrun prey (by staying at the task for hours ) that gave them a survival advantage, I have recently read.
So, a Paleo-like diet plus exercise seem the best natural ways to remain healthy. Oh, and add dark chocolate to that. For the antioxidants