All You Need to Know About the Paleo Diet

The Paleo diet, also known as the Paleolithic diet, caveman diet, stone-age diet, and hunter-gatherer diet, is a way of eating that focuses on whole foods some people theorize that cavemen could have eaten during the Paleolithic era thousands of years ago. (We recognize that, Biblically speaking, there are serious questions about the evolutionary basis of the Paleo diet.) Some people follow the Paleo diet to become healthier or lose weight. Knowing about the pros and cons of the Paleo diet vs. the Hallelujah diet helps you determine which eating plan is right for you.

What Is the Paleo Diet?

Paleo diet foods are whole, unprocessed foods cavemen probably ate. When following this type of meal plan, you’ll choose from the following foods:

• Lean meat, especially wild game or grass-fed animals
• Fish
• Eggs
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Avocados
• Oils from nuts and fruits
• Herbs and spices

When following the Paleo diet, you’ll AVOID foods that were made possible by intentional cultivation and stewardship of the land (farming), as well as modern day foods, such as:

• Legumes
• Grains
• Breads
• Dairy foods
• Processed meats
• Other processed foods
• Sweets
• Sugary drinks
• Salt

Drink a lot of water when following the Paleo diet. The purpose of this way of eating is to return to what primitive humans supposedly ate.

What Are the Benefits of the Paleo Diet?

While the Paleo diet isn’t for everybody, you might experience some short-term health and wellness benefits by following it. Numerous studies show that when switching from the standard American diet to a Paleo diet, you might experience:

• Better blood sugar control
• Improved blood pressure
• Reduced cholesterol
• Lower triglycerides
• Weight loss
• A lower sodium intake

The reason the Paleo diet is beneficial (in the short term) for your health is that it lacks processed foods, including processed meats associated with certain cancers, added sugar, and other unhealthy foods that provide calories but few (if any) essential nutrients your body requires to function properly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 75% of the U.S. population eats too few fruits and vegetables, and most Americans exceed saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium recommendations.

Are There Drawbacks of Paleo Dieting?

As with any type of diet, potential drawbacks exist when choosing the Paleo diet to lose weight or improve your overall health. Examples include:

1. It Might Lack Certain Essential Nutrients

Paleo diets do not include legumes and grains that are rich in fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients your body requires daily to function properly.

2. Red Meat May Cause Cancer

Red meat, which is a main component of the Paleo diet, may cause certain cancers. The American Institute of Cancer Research reports that eating more than 18 ounces of red meat, including lamb, beef, and pork each week, boosts your risk of colorectal cancer.

3. It Can Be Difficult to Follow Long Term

The Paleo diet is restrictive and, while it might enhance weight loss or healthy weight management, Paleo dieting can be difficult for some people to follow long-term.

4. It’s More Expensive

Choosing the Paleo diet can be more expensive than traditional healthy eating plans, as legumes and grains excluded from Paleo diets are often a cheaper and healthier source of protein and fiber than fresh meats.

Is the Hallelujah Diet a Better Option?

A main difference between the evolution-based Paleo diet and the creation, Bible-based Hallelujah Diet is the Hallelujah Diet is an entirely plant-based way of eating and includes legumes, whole grains, and plant milks. Research shows that switching to a plant-based (vegan) diet is associated with:

• Lower heart disease death rates
• Better body weight management
• Reductions in required medications
• A lower risk of chronic diseases, such as cancer
• Less obesity
• Lower rates of high blood pressure
• Reduced cholesterol
• Better blood sugar control
• Possibly reversing coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes

The reason for this is at least two-fold. Saturated fat, carnitine in meat, dietary cholesterol, hormones, antibiotics, and other contaminants found in animal foods contribute to certain chronic diseases. Plant foods, on the other hand, are loaded with fiber, phytochemicals, and antioxidants that have the following disease-fighting properties:

• Free radical reduction
• Reduced cancer activity
• Lower inflammation
• Better immunity

Unfortunately, research shows that more than 90% of adults and children in the United States get too little dietary fiber, which is abundant in plant foods, and poor dietary habits are strongly linked with chronic diseases. The Hallelujah diet provides you with plant-based meal plans, recipes, Hallelujah diet supplements to help avoid nutrient deficiencies, and much more. The Paleo diet is a better option than the standard American diet (SAD) to improve your health, but the Hallelujah diet is an eating plan based on God’s design for better overall health, illness and disease prevention, and chronic disease management or reversal.