The Paleo diet is also commonly referred to as the Caveman diet. The idea is to only eat the food that would have been around in the time of the cavemen, which means cutting out refined foods and sugars. However, like other diets this is not something everyone will be able to follow. Here are six reasons the paleo diet may not be for you.
The Focus on Protein
There is a huge focus on eating protein, especially meat. This is not something for vegetarians or vegans, but can also lead to other health issues for meat-eaters.
You need to think carefully about the type of meat you do eat (avoiding the fatty types) but you still run the risk of high cholesterol levels. The protein is also harder to break down. While that is good for feeling fuller, it can cause havoc on the digestive system.
Lots of Nuts
Nuts and seeds are an important part of the diet to gain variety in the diet. The problem is that nuts are full of fibre. They can lead to constipation and other digestive problems.
It takes time to recover from the pain that nuts can cause on the digestive system. You can avoid all nuts and nut-based products, but then your diet will be very monotone and difficult to stick to.
It Means a Lot of Fruit
Fruit and vegetables are on the list for the Paleo diet. However, fruit doesn’t digest well for everyone.
It is also important to think about the natural sugars in the fruits. While in moderation these natural sugars are going to do little harm, if your diet is mostly made up of the fruit you could end up with other health problems. It’s still important to balance all your food groups out.
High Levels of Fat
It’s not the fact that it is fat that is a problem. The diet is full of healthy fats, which is a good thing. However, any type of fat can be difficult to digest. Remember that you’re eating a lot of nuts, which are full of healthy fats.
You could find your body really struggle to digest the fatty substances, which can cause other bowel issues. It’s important to trial a few things to find out how your stomach takes to it.
Extremely Restrictive
The whole diet is extremely restrictive. This can be a problem for some people. You may want to eat cake, biscuits and anything that gives you a quick energy boost for your snacks.
These are strictly off limits. There are some recipes for Paleo versions of your favourites, but they don’t taste great for everyone and you need to find the time to make them.
Difficult to Stick To
People find the diet difficult to stick to. This is mainly due to the restrictiveness of the diet, as it is very difficult just to get on with life.
Alcohol is off limits, along with many foods that are enjoyed when eating out. It makes it difficult to plan things and enjoy days or nights out with friends.