Ask Fuzzy: Jury out on benefits of paleo diet

What is the evidence for the paleo diet?

The paleolithic diet comes in various forms but includes meat (preferably grass-fed), poultry, eggs, seafood, nuts, fruits and non-starchy vegetables. Grains, legumes, potatoes, dairy products and sugar are all off the table.

These paleo diets are quite different from what our ancestors may have consumed. Flesh from wild animals is much leaner than that from domesticated animals and modern fruits and vegetables also differ from their wild relatives. We should applaud the low content of processed foods, sugar and salt in the modern paleo diets but why exclude plant-based foods such as wholegrains and legumes when a wealth of evidence confirms their health value?

Paleo posterboy Pete Evans.

Photo: James Brickwood

The modern paleolithic diets are high in protein and low in carbohydrate and valuable types of dietary fibre. Calcium may also be low unless small fish and their bones or prawns and their shells are included. Many anthropological experts dispute the claims of paleo diet promoters, noting that our ancestors’ diets varied greatly and many included seeds of grasses.

There are no long-term studies showing any benefits of paleo diets. The few short-term trials with small numbers of people do not provide adequate proof of benefit or balance.

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https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/ask-fuzzy-jury-out-on-benefits-of-paleo-diet-20180622-p4zn80.html