The Paleo diet, formerly known as the caveman diet, seems to be a better match for our genetic makeup.
I’ve written before on my thoughts of the Paleo diet (which can be found by clicking here). I do feel that this an overall good approach to healthy eating. However, this is with the caveat that our cavemen ancestors likely had a far more varied source of animal proteins. Here in the civilized world pork, chicken and beef dominate. In the truly Paleo, animal protein sources would’ve included insects and small mammals like mice and squirrels. I’m pretty sure we weren’t pulling down a boar or antelope every day for dinner. In case you don’t believe me, grab a spear for yourself and try to feed your family.
This particular study takes a very scientific view of the diet to see how it performs physiologically. Here are the details of the diet used in the study:
- The diet had a relatively high content of protein (30%) and unsaturated fat [40%–mainly monounsaturated fatty acids like olive oil and nuts] but limited carbohydrates (30%) and saturated fat.
- The group was small, consisting of 10 overweight, postmenopausal females, on the diet for 5 weeks.
The results were pretty impressive for a mere 5 weeks of what is likely a very palatable and livable diet:
- Overall caloric intake decreased by 25%.
- Average weight loss was just shy of 10 pounds (9.9).
- BMI, waist and hip circumference, waist/hip ratio and abdominal sagittal diameter also dropped.
- Diastolic blood pressure dropped 7 points.
- Drops in fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL/HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), urinary C-peptide (a sign of insulin release) all dropped.
- Liver triglyceride levels plummeted by 49%.
Basically, in just a little over a month, the women in this study turned around their diabetic trajectory. Makes it hard to believe that well over half our country is either diabetic or on their way to diabetes when it can be so readily controlled with dietary choices.