Comparing of the Paleo diet menu – What’s the best?

By the Authors of The Mediterranean Diet eBook

In this week I’ve read a research from the Science Daily, about a Swedish study of the Lund University on the effects of the Paleo diet.

Substantially the study take 29 participants (with glucose intolerance and coronary heart disease) and divide them in 2 groups: The paleo diet group (No grains and Dairy) and the Mediterranean diet group (with grains and light dairy)

 

After 3 months the Paleo group has a lower blood sugar response to dietary carbohydrates and a marked improvement in insulin response to carbohydrates. In Summary their blood sugar didn’t increase when they ate carbs.

 

The essentially of the paleo diet is a regimen that respects our ancestors way to eat: consuming fruit, vegetables, nuts, lean meat and fish.

 

The consumption of cereals and dairy products came after the use of cooking and farming 10.000 years ago. This provided most of calories.

 

Today this type of paleo diet can be found among the traditional population of Kitava, Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea, where modern agrarian-based food is unavailable. There are a lot of studies about the health effects of this diet.

 

Those who promote the Paleo diet (or Stone age diet) base the principles on:

 

Eat none of the following:

  • Grains- (bread, pasta)
  • Beans
  • Potatoes
  • Dairy products
  • Sugar
  • Salt

 

Eat the following:

  • Meat, chicken and fish
  • Eggs
  • Fruit
  • Root Vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Berries

 

The consumption of grains beans and potatoes can give problem like:

  • Contain toxins in small amounts (after the raw foods- cereals, potatoes and beans- are cooked)
  • Have a high glycemic index
  • Are low in many vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytosterols

 

A typical meal plans for Mediterranean diet is based on:

  • Carbohydrates: Pasta, bread and potatoes
  • Meat: Chicken, fish and little red meats
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Legumes
  • Wine

 

Personally i don’t think that a diet is better than another…this type of study is about people with heart disease and glucose intolerance…so the Paleo diet can be seen as a “Light Mediterranean diet”.

 

For other people following the Paleo diet can cause a sensible reduction of essential carbs that are the base of energy and calories.

 

If you need more info you can read these research about: Paleo diet here and here and see some studies about the the Mediterranean diet

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