If you
haven’t heard about the paleo diet by now, you must be living in a
cave—ironically, the very place this prehistoric meal plan supposedly
originated. “The idea is based on eating like your ancestors ate,” says Lisa
Young, R.D. author of . “Very often, you’re going high protein,
lower carb, and cutting out dairy and sugar.” In other words, eat like a
caveman.
Paleo isn’t without its pros: You’re cutting out
a ton of processed foods and the higher protein-to-carb ratio can leave
you satisfied with smaller portions, helping with weight loss. But, says Young,
“it’s totally not sustainable. Whenever you cut out entire food groups, you’re
not going to be able to live with it for a long time.” Plus, she points out,
paleo advocates also restrict a lot of healthy plant-based proteins including
beans and legumes, some whole grains, and low-fat dairy—all foods that have
been shown to help with weight loss.
Ultimately, Young says, paleo dieting can be a
good way to jumpstart a more whole-foods approach to your diet and eliminate
processed junk food and sugar. Just don’t go caveman crazy. It’s okay—more than
that, good for you—to have beans, legumes, whole grains, starches, and some
low-fat dairy in your diet.
Related: 6 Things That Happen When You Give Up Carbs
Related: 6 Things That Happen When You Give Up Carbs
But even paleo devotees who do achieve the
loincloth-ready bodies of their dreams may have other side effects to contend
with. For instance:
