Last Updated on April 16, 2024
Every year brings a new fad diet that promises to help you lose 10 lbs. in 2 weeks. The majority of these diets are unhealthy and ineffective. One of the most recent diets to hit the health market is the “Paleo Diet”. The Paleo diet is also called the caveman (or cavewoman) diet, the Stone Age diet, or the hunter-gatherer diet because of its simplicity. The Paleo diet has gained significant popularity, especially in the diabetes community.
Loren Cordain, a health scholar, created the Paleo diet, which is short for Paleolithic diet. The diet was designed to mimic the original diet of cavemen and cavewomen. It consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats. Basically, anything that could be killed or gathered by carrying a club. The diet eliminates any dairy, artificial sugars, and processed foods. So how would this diet do for someone with diabetes?
There is little research that reinforces the benefits of a Paleo diet; some nutritionists say it would benefit diabetics while others say it could cause harm. A study completed in 2009 looked at the advantages of a Paleo diet for anyone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The study compared the Paleo diet with the traditional diet recommended for type 2 diabetes.
The study was conducted over two 3-month periods. The study looked at 13 different patients which were broken into two groups. For three months one group would follow a Paleo diet while the other followed an average diet. At the end of the three months, the groups would switch diets. The results showed that when compared, the Paleo diet had significantly improved results. The Paleo dieters have much lower A1c, blood pressure, and had a decrease in BMI and waist circumference.
Another study compared the Paleo diet to a “Mediterranean-like” diet to see the impact each diet had on diabetics. The patients were split into two separate groups; each was given a specific diet with no calorie restrictions. A “Mediterranean-like” diet consisted of fish, oils, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. They used measurements in weight, waist circumference, glucose levels and insulin levels to measure success in the diets. Both diets showed losses in overweight, but the Paleo group lost 3 lbs. more than the other group. The Paleo group also showed better results in the glucose levels and waist circumference.
So does this mean you should start a Paleo diet tomorrow? Not necessarily. There are still a lot of things to consider before starting a new diet, especially one as different as your current one. The first thing you should do before beginning a new diet is consult with your doctor. They can evaluate your health and determine if a Paleo diet is right for you.
While it might seem like doing a Paleo diet will consist of bland and boring food, there are plenty of delicious and healthy recipes that you can cook every night. There are even whole cookbooks dedicated to the Paleo lifestyle.
A few things to consider before starting the diet are the time requirements that come along with the new lifestyle. The Paleo diet will require more time in the kitchen than most other diets, because of the limitations it puts on the food you can eat. On a Paleo diet, you can’t pop a frozen pizza in the oven or microwave a frozen meal for dinner. A Paleo diet will also severely limit the number of diets you can eat out. If you don’t know where to start, there are dozens of “how-to” guides for beginning your Paleo diet. Similarly, you can find thousands of Paleo friendly recipes on Pinterest.
Just like with every diet, you should also be mindful of the foods you eat and always test your glucose levels with every meal. While the Paleo diet has fewer carbs, that doesn’t mean you should discontinue taking any medications before consulting your doctor.
