The Paleolithic Diet, or Paleo Diet, is one that proposes a diet which follows the eating habits of those of the Paleolithic era.  People of today should eat what is hunted or gathered from nature, not the processed food that is a result of agriculture and industrialization (Barnhart). Eighty million Americans are estimated to be obese, and chronic illness such as Type 2 Diabetes is on the rise (Petrucci).  The plethora of information found raises the question of how the Paleo Diet benefits health by reducing diseases and chronic illnesses.  The Paleo Diet is controversial in the dieting community; however, there is a vast amount of evidence that supports the basics of the diet, health benefits, and experiences while following it. 

What is the Paleo Diet?  The specifics are disputed.  Dr. Loren Cordain, a well cited expert on the Paleo Diet, states that when following the diet one must adhere to foods that were available during the Paleolithic era (“The Paleo…”).  Hunters and gatherers during the Paleolithic era only ate wild fish, grass fed meats, no processed foods, no dairy, no grains, and no legumes. This promotes weight loss and health, prevent diseases, and enhance athletic performance (Beals).  Many cite the health benefits of reduction or reversal of chronic illness, decreases in blood pressure, and reduced risk of cancer (Petrucci).

Results from scientific research can be found to support the benefits of the Paleo Diet. Two studies researched were of short term, but the adherence to the dietary practice shows that the results were consistent in the improved health benefits of blood pressure, improved glucose tolerance, and in some people decreased weight (Frassetto).  “Metabolic and Physiologic Improvements from Consuming a Paleolithic, Hunter-Gatherer Type Diet” is a study led by Lynda A. Frassetto, Director for the General Clinical Research Center at the University of California.  This study is based upon volunteers following the Paleo diet for a short period of time.  Her study concludes there are indeed reductions in blood pressure, plasma insulin levels, and cholesterol (Frassetto).  A review of other studies published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition researched results from 159 volunteers who followed the Paleo Diet and found weight loss and lower blood pressure and blood glucose in most of the participants (Manheimer).  Just as the results of the first study show improvement in these certain areas, the studies reviewed in this article do as well.  The results of these studies also concluded that this diet shows beneficial effects quicker than most controlled diets.  The conclusions from both of these studies coincide with the conclusions and knowledge from the self-proclaimed founder of the Paleo Diet, Loren Cordain. 

 Dr. Cordain is the self -proclaimed founder of the Paleolithic Movement and Diet.  He has multiple writings on the subject of the Paleo Diet.  The Paleo Diet, The Paleo Diet for Athletes, and The Dietary Cure for Acne are just three of Cordain’s novels that have been widely acclaimed.  Throughout his works, he discusses the health benefits previously mentioned.  He states that followers of the Paleo diet eat fresh, living foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grass-fed meats, seafood, and fish. Foods such as these are the foundation of the Paleo Diet.  Cordain believes that the genome of the modern population is that of its ancestors, and society is composed of “stone agers living in the space age” (“The Paleo…”).  He does believe there have been minor changes in the immune system of modern people.  However, these are 

only small changes in some conditions such as lactase persistence and hemoglobinopathy, but no drastic changes have been found in the human body.  Cordain is so persistent on the fact that the Paleo Diet works because the genome of the population today is so similar to its ancestors.   

Not only is there research on the lack of changes in the human genome, but there is also data on the changes of human epithelial cells and causation of diseases and cancers due to the change in diet.  Cordain has also identified that there are changes to the epithelial tissue from the current American diet.   He adds researched facts to his pieces that following the Paleo Diet will aid in the improvement in skin health and in the reduction in the appearance of acne (“The Paleo…”).  He finds that acne is not seen in traditional cultures that eat fresh, non-processed foods.  Acne is only present in cultures that eat processed and high sugared foods (“The Paleo…”).  This adds skin health to the list of health improvements with the Paleo Diet.  In agreement with the scientific journals, Cordain states that blood pressure is reduced and significantly lower for those on the Paleo Diet.  Hypertension is extremely common among individuals from America’s older generations (“The Paleo…”).  In many Western cultures where diets consist of fresh fruits, no salt, and no processed foods, hypertension is rare.  Certain cancers are believed to be caused by the diet, in particular epithelial cancers (“The Paleo…”).    Epithelial cancers were not seen before processed foods became a major staple of today’s societies standard American diet (“The Paleo…”).  The United States spends a great deal of money on health care.  If a simple alteration in diet can significantly improve health and decrease spending on health care, why not make these changes? (“The Paleo…”).  

Popular literature is also supportive of the diet. Claudia Hammond is an author for British Broadcasting Company (BBC).  In her article Paleolithic Diet: Should we all eat like cavepeople?, she discusses the need for humans to eat in the Paleo way as our bodies have not evolved as much as many would think since the Paleolithic era.  The rise in chronic illness is primarily from the inability of our bodies to process the foods we eat today. Hammond has researched much about this diet as she is a psychologist and lecturer of health and social psychology.  As a health and social psychologist, Hammond is particularly intrigued in this diet.  Hammond includes research from a Polish study in her article.  Cordain and Hammond have different views on the Western cultures’ diets.  Cordain mentions, Western cultures’ are all healthier in several aspects.  The Western populations do not have as many diseases or chronic illnesses, and they face less issues involving epithelial cells (“The Paleo…”).  Hammond’s research states the at least 70% of the Western population consumes food groups that cavepeople would never touch or to which they were never introduced (Hammond).  This research is stated as it is argued that cutting main food groups, such as dairy and grains, out of one’s diet is challenging to both one’s body and evolution.  However, she does agree with Cordain that our genetics are still identical to that of our ancestors.   The results from her research coincide with the studies and Cordain’s knowledge.  

According to her article in the New York Times, Elizabeth Kolbert, a critically acclaimed New York Times author, has done extensive research on the Paleo diet.  After becoming well versed with the subject, she transitioned her family to a Paleo Diet for a one week.  Kolbert’s family was shocked and speechless to see the food prepared for breakfast the first morning.  Breakfast consisted of fried eggs and sausage.  She informed her children and husband that the Paleo Diet does not consist of any grains, processed foods, legumes, or dairy.  She told them to eat more sausage or eggs if they were still hungry.  After this slight culture shock, Kolbert and her family became accustomed to the diet.  In agreement, Kolbert and her family state that this diet is healthier due to the lack of processed foods and carbohydrates.  Though, Kolbert finds that shopping for the Paleo Diet in modern grocery stores is quite difficult, but that was the only negative.  Society has become so accustomed to eating fattening, processed foods that are made in mass production.  This was a successful and positive experience for Kolbert and her family (Kolbert). 

Just as Kolbert and her family had a beneficial experience on the Paleo Diet, Dena Harris, author of The Paleo Vegetarian Diet: A Guide for Weight Loss and Healthy Living, is as well. Harris has many friends who have embraced the Paleo Diet, and she has seen them living healthy, happy lives.  This view of a potentially better lifestyle pushed her to try the diet for herself.  Harris has followed the diet for many years.  Her book includes details of the specific benefits of the diet and recipes for those choosing to follow the Paleo Diet.  She understands that this diet is not for everyone, as diet is a personal choice and may not help with accomplishment of goals such as weight loss.  Harris mentions that the hardest part of this diet is being able to “hang with the rules” of the Paleo Diet (Harris).  

 Harris feels that if one is able to follow this diet in its entirety, then she will realize several benefits.  Following the diet correctly will lead to more energy.  No time to cook?  No problem.   The recipes Harris includes in her book prove to the reader that she can eat delicious food on this diet.  She feels that most of the recipes are easy to make with simple ingredients.  A dedicated follower should experience weight loss and muscle firming (Harris).  Harris strongly suggests to stay away from the scale while on this diet.  One is not going to lose weight overnight.  It is a process that takes time.  Harris does state that there are a few negatives that followers of the Paleo Diet may experience.  Extreme hunger, deprivation, and alienation may be experienced for those new to the Paleo Diet (Harris). 

 According to Harris’ book, the extreme hunger can be reduced if the dieter follows the diet in its entirety.  Harris has a solution to this hunger.  Follow the diet and eat more!  Paleo Diet followers are allowed any amount of natural foods eaten until hunger is satisfied.  As long as sugar intake is low, one can eat as much as she wants and still lose weight.  Deprivation comes from the change in diet. Cutting processed foods and grains out of one’s diet can be alarming at first, but once her body gets used to the foods on the Paleo Diet this deprivation should subside.  Alienation stems from appearing different than your family and friends in the sense of food.  Friends and family may constantly question what the Paleo Diet is and why one is following a diet so demanding.  The comments and questions become exhausting and stressful.  This at times causes followers to fall off of the diet.  The pressure may become too much for some.  How a follower feels on the diet is important.  One should feel healthier, more energized, and stronger on the Paleo Diet (Harris).  

An article written in the Wall Street Journal asks the question, “But does the path to weight loss and better health lie in eating like our hunter-gatherer ancestors, eschewing grains, dairy products and the other foods of the modern agricultural era in favor of protein, non starchy vegetables and healthy fats such as coconut oil?”  Many followers and believers of the Paleo Diet believe that the answer to this question is “yes.”  An author for the Wall Street Journal, Kellyann Petrucci, states that this is a diet she recommends to patients, because it is the best diet to promote weight loss and leads to good health.  However, many criticisms concerning this diet have come to light in recent years concerning the true nutritional gain when following the Paleo Diet. 

Even with all of the positive information for the Paleo Diet there are the negative comments from those who are against this method of eating.  Many government health officials say that Americans should be eating grains and dairy and should simply avoid eating foods high in fat (Petrucci).  There is also no clear evidence that chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes are solely caused by poor dietary choices.  Choosing to move to the Paleo way of eating will not encourage someone to increase her exercise which is also important in prevention of chronic illness (Beals). Nutritionists debate whether the diet is truly nutritious.  They do not believe this diet is nutritionally healthy as one is eliminating entire food groups (Petrucci).

Marion Nestle wrote as a nutritionist in the Wall Street Journal that the basics of the Paleo Diet are sound, but there is a flaw in the diet.  “We actually have no idea what our Paleolithic ancestors ate.”  She states that rather than the diet of those in the Paleolithic Era  prevented chronic illness it was more likely that their shorter lifespan did not give their bodies enough time to develop these diseases.  It is the reduced caloric intake and the reduction in processed, high fat foods that are responsible for the positive outcomes with the Paleo Diet (Petrucci).  Dayle Hayes also speaks out against the Paleo Diet as being a “miracle diet.”  The Paleo Diet is one which promotes lean protein and limits carbohydrates, sugars, and processed foods.  There are many other such diets available today.  Her concern as with many diets is the lack of balance within the recommended menus on the diet (Barnhart).  There is very little scientific evidence that the Paleo Diet works (Beals).  Also, those moving to the Paleo Diet may find it to be expensive and time consuming (Barnhart).  These criticisms are made by those who are qualified in their fields, but have yet to try the diet. 

After researching the Paleo Diet, I find that the diet has benefits that can save someone’s life.  This diet is one that is all natural, ensuring nothing but healthiness.  The experiences numerous people have while following the Paleo Diet have been positive.  Others have found the diet not to be beneficial, but they have not tried this different style of eating.  Experts admit that while this diet may not be for everyone, the success of this method of eating depends on the person.  This same statement can be said for any of the vast number of diets available today.  Eating for health and weight loss is always dependent on the individual.  There is evidence that our genome is very similar to that of our Paleolithic ancestors.  Agriculture and industrialization were not around during the Paleolithic era, so our ancestors were not subject to obesity, diseases, and chronic illnesses that the current standard American diet promotes.  In many of the other countries of the world, the high fat and overly processed diet eaten in the United States does not exist.  It is clear that many other countries do not have as many health concerns which can be linked to their diet.  The Paleo Diet may not be the best dietary choice for all, but the evidence shows it is worth trying.  
