Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you’ve probably heard of the paleo diet. It’s caught on in a big way, with celebrities and politicians eager to jump on board. This is because paleo is one of the easiest diets to follow, and it’s still possible to eat something yummy while remaining conscious of your personal fitness.
What the Paleo Diet Does
The name of the paleo diet may throw you off. The idea behind the diet is that it’s similar to what cavemen ate during the Paleolithic era. Though the idea behind that is somewhat misleading, as cavemen did eat things like grains, the science behind the diet is sound.
The diet eliminates dairy, sugar, grains, and legumes. Instead, you’ll consume a ton of poultry, meat, fish, and nearly unlimited amounts of fruits and vegetables. Since the nutrients in all of these foods are easily accessible to your body, a lot of people who work out regularly love paleo. Walk in to any Crossfit gym, and chances are you’ll be able to find at least one person devoted to paleo.
The Pros and Cons of the Paleo Diet
Paleo is widely appreciated, but it does come with some deal breakers that may impact your decision to try it.
Pros
- Since paleo is so popular, a lot of restaurants and grocery stores have gone out of their way to accommodate the paleo crowd. You probably won’t find yourself limited to specialty grocery stores, and you can still go out to eat with your friends.
- A lot of paleo recipes have excellent substitutes for the things you’re cutting out. You can’t have dairy or refined sugar, but starting your morning with a coconut milk latte really isn’t all that bad. You’d be surprised how great cauliflower “rice” is.
- The diet is designed to give you more energy to work out. If you find yourself feeling too tired to hit the gym, eating paleo for a while may improve your energy levels.
Cons
- Soy is absolutely not allowed in a paleo diet. If you’re a vegetarian or a vegan, you’re going to have to get really creative with your substitutes.
- Losing grains really hurts sometimes. You may feel tempted to cheat. If you do cheat, just make sure you keep your pizza sessions few and far between
Should You Try the Paleo Diet?
If you’re prepared to have great willpower against cheese and bread (at least 90% of the time, with the other 10% coupled with an extra workout), then paleo is right for you.