The Caveman diet, also known as the Paleolithic diet or Stone Age diet, isn't a specific diet plan, but a concept and way of eating. While the Caveman diet may be effective for shedding pounds, there are drawbacks to following it. Understanding the concepts behind the Caveman diet and the pros and cons of using it can help you decide whether this diet is right for you.
Caveman Diet Concept
The concept behind the Caveman diet is that prehistoric people were much healthier than people today and by adopting the diet of cavemen, modern people can achieve the same level of health. Because human genetics don't change rapidly, proponents of the Caveman diet claim that humans are best suited for the diet utilized 40,000 years ago. The high consumption of grains and other carbohydrates in modern society is blamed for modern health problems such as obesity and diabetes. A variety of books, articles and websites promote and explain the diet and set out menus, meal plans and instructions for people who want to eat like a caveman.
Methods
Eating like a caveman basically means avoiding all foods that came into the human diet after the invention of agriculture. Grains, including oatmeal, rice, bread and flour, are completely forbidden on this diet. You should also avoid refined sugars, beans, peanuts and dairy products while on the Caveman diet. Additionally, processed oils, such as cooking oil, are not allowed. Foods allowed on the diet include meat, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, seeds, berries and root vegetables. About 65 percent of the calories in this diet come from animal sources and the remaining 35 percent comes from plant sources.
Advantages
The foods on this diet are generally unprocessed nutritious foods that are low in sodium, trans fats and added sugars. Many people who use the Caveman diet successfully lose weight while on this diet plan. This diet may also be good for people who are allergic to milk or who have a gluten or lactose intolerance, since these components are absent from the diet.
Disadvantages
Because the diet is so strict, many people may have difficulty following the diet plan. There are no specific recommendations for limiting saturated fat intake, so people on this diet may consume too much. The Caveman diet does emphasize the importance of exercise while on the diet, but most people do not engage in the level of physical activity that actual cavemen did, so the diet may be inappropriate for someone with a modern sedentary lifestyle.
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