Scientific Analysis of the Paleolithic Dietby Jan McBride, M.D.
I am not sure whether there is one specific spokesperson for this diet, but I viewed several sources on the Internet which explain the concept. I found the following basic principles: 1. A
natural diet is best Accordingly, this diet recommends that you eat "what the caveman ate", which consists of meat, fruits and vegetables, nuts and berries. The foods chosen must be those which a caveman could scavenge or gather, and could eat without cooking, since fire is a recent invention in the evolutionary period of human diets and digestive systems. However, you are allowed to cook the foods before eating them. Proponents of this diet believe that processed foods (listed in number 3 above) are responsible for causing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, arthritis and other immunologic conditions. Some true believers promote the benefits of eating insects.
Current scientific knowledge tells us that the human digestive system does not recognize specific foods, but only the nutrients of which they are composed - that is, carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Furthermore, these nutrients are handled in very specific ways and with very specific priorities. These digestive processes did indeed evolve with the "caveman diet" and are therefore most efficient with this diet. However, just because a food was not available to cavemen does not mean it is not handled just as well by the digestive system, which has numerous complex mechanisms that make it very versatile. There is one critical aspect of any diet that determines whether it is the most healthy form of eating - this is not merely in the selection of foods, but in the proportion of carbohydrate, protein and fat that is consumed. This issue is not addressed by the Paleolithic Diet. Think about it. On the Paleolithic Diet you could consume 3 fruits and 3 vegetables along with some meat in a meal. However, cavemen did not have the wide selection of our present-day produce departments. They would have had limited amounts of one or two fruits or vegetables at a time, depending on what was in season and what climate they lived in. Therefore, the bulk of their diet was meat (protein and fat) with the carbohydrates of fruits and vegetables being a much smaller portion of each meal. It is this balance of nutrients that is an integral part of how our digestive systems work. This difference may not appear important to those who are eating all natural foods, however, it is critically important to the human digestive system. In fact, it is more "natural" to eat a candy bar with your meat dish if it provides the correct balance of carbohydrates in your meal. Your body does not know the difference between a candy bar and an apple, except for the quantity of carbohydrates present (true, there is a difference in glycemic index, but once the carbohydrate is digested its ultimate fate is the same for all sources). Scientific evidence illustrates that the risk of atherogenic heart disease due to elevated LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels is most directly related to the ratio of carbohydrate to fat in a diet. A high carbohydrate diet with very low fat content (like some vegetarian diets) appears to be just as low-risk for heart disease as is a low carbohydrate, high fat diet. In choosing foods for the Paleolithic Diet, as currently described, one cannot be assured of staying consistently in either one of these categories. Most persons who use the Paleolithic Diet will probably maintain a normal weight, because it is difficult to overconsume carbohydrates with the restrictions given. For the same reason, many persons will also probably consume an acceptable balance of carbohydrate, protein and fat, at least some of the time. However, the restrictions imposed by this plan are not necessary for achieving a healthy diet. Regarding the concern that processed grains and milk promote disease due to their allergenic effects, there are definitely persons who have symptoms of allergies to some of these types of products. Most persons, however, display no symptoms of such intolerances, so it is difficult to make a case that these forms of food are not handled well by the body. Conditions such as heart disease and diabetes appear to be related to the quantity of certain nutrients (carbohydrate) rather than their source. For rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, it is postulated (though not well established) that there is a dietary connection to processed foods, and some individuals may find benefit in using only natural food sources. "DIET TRUTHS REVEALED: The IDEAL DIET for Human Health" presents an objective scientific analysis of the type of diet that is most healthy for humans. This turns out to be a version of the low carb diet that does not exclude carbohydrates completely, but that optimizes the ratio between carbohydrates and fat in the diet. Persons who have a slow metabolism may find it difficult to lose weight even with a low carb diet. For these people, the "Metabolic Switch" diet can provide success. This method is described in DIET TRUTHS REVEALED. Food lists, sample menus and charts are provided to guide you in starting, adapting and continuing the diet for your long term weight maintenance and good health. You can order
DIET TRUTHS REVEALED by mail for only
$14.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling, or by instant download. More about DIET TRUTHS REVEALED and The IDEAL DIET Newsletter The Scientific Reasons why a Low Carb Diet is the IDEAL DIET for Human Health! Scientific Analysis of Protein Power Scientific Analysis of The Zone |