The Paleo diet is extremely popular and so many clients tell me they are eating “Paleo.” My first question is always, “tell me what you mean by Paleo?” as, like any diet, there are a 1001 bastardised forms. And the biggest belief is that Paleo equates to high meat consumption – for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In fact, a true Paleo diet avoids grains, legumes and dairy so if you are eating any of those, then you are not technically eating Paleo.
Let’s have a look at this concept of high meat consumption in more depth. The premise that our ancestors ate a lot of meat is a contentious one. More likely, meat was eaten in smaller portions than most Paleo dieters believe. Amongst eggs, fish, berries, nuts, seeds, fruits and other plant based foods, meat was in the minority. So hold the Paleo sausage feast for breakfast and think again.
When you look at where we came from in an evolutionary way, we were once primates. And interestingly, we still share the closest gut bacteria to our furry friends. And primates don’t eat much meat. Have I got you thinking yet?
Pros of the Paleo Diet
- It cuts out all gluten. You must know by now that I am not a fan of gluten and the research backs me on this one
- Promotes meat derived from grass fed animals – this will have a lower omega 6 level. Omega 6 is inflammatory and you want to avoid too much of it.
- Fibre rich – the consumption of lots of fresh vegetables will provide a fantastic fuel source for your gut bacteria
- Encourages nose to tail eating – using the whole animal instead of simply choice cuts
- Cuts out processed foods such as sugar and refined salt
Cons of the Paleo Diet
- Is meat heavy – the meat we eat today is completely different from the meat eaten by our ancestors. Today’s conventional meat is omega 6 dominant, and contains antibiotics, pesticides and growth hormones. In 2009, 80% of the antibiotics used in the US were given to livestock. Antibiotic resistance is a huge problem already!
- Standard meat has a huge carbon footprint. The Environmental Working Group has done some amazing research on the impact of eating meat, see “Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change + Health” document. Lamb and beef carry the biggest carbon footprint by far.
- Livestock release huge amounts of methane, which is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
- Grain fed livestock require huge amounts of fertilizer, fuel, pesticides and water to produce their feed.
Checklist for Eating Paleo in a Conscious Way
- Choose meat that is organic & grass fed
- Buy eggs and chicken that is organic & free range
- Don’t waste your food – plan your meals and use left overs for lunch
- Eat meat less and plant based foods more
Fact – If you eat one less burger per week for a year, it’s like taking your car off the road for 515km!
