It seems everywhere we look there is a new diet craze promising easy weight loss without hard work, sacrifice or discipline. These programs are usually low calorie, low carb, low fat etcFor every book and weight loss program available in stores and on television, there is somebody making money behind it. Why? Because these programs set the user up to fail from the get go. They make HUGE promises and in some cases even deliver initial results. However, as soon as the person returns to a \”normal\” level of living (or what they deem as normal), they regain all the weight plus more. If a diet program worked as easy as they promised and lasted a lifetime, there would be no market for getting people on the rebound. The fundamental reason these programs fail is that they encourage an eating style that goes against our genetic design. The Paleo Diet is the first diet program outlined that teaches all of us how to eat according to our genetic needs.
The Paleolithic Diet is supported by DNA evidence that is over 40,000 years old. Our genetic makeup has changed ~.02% in those 40,000 years . This means we are the same today as our ancestors 40,000 years ago. In addition, our nutritional requirements are identical. Our lifestyle habits have unfortunately changed considerably. Paleolithic people were hunter-gatherer communities and did not farm. These societies consumed small amounts of a wide variety of foods. They lived on what was available to them given the time of year and their geographic location. There was not a Carl\’s Junior or Jack in the Box around every corner. As mankind became civilized, populations multiplied, and farming practices became the prevalent practice. The outcome was a rapid decline in physical activity and deleterious impact on the health of mankind.
So how did the Paleolithic man eat compared to modern man? They ate no dairy, grain, cereal, soy, salt, refined sugar, or starchy foods such as potatoes, yams and sweet potatoes. The Paleolithic Diet consisted largely of lean animal proteins from natural sources, fruits, vegetables and they drank nothing but water. And the impact of this type of diet on their health? They had no incidence of high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, dental carries, or obesity. Paleolithic citizens were lean and fit like modern day elite athletes because they lived their lives in such a way that health was a natural outcome.
Farming and urbanization took us away from a protein, fruits and vegetables society and into a grain and dairy eating society. The evidence shows a rapid decline in the health of mankind as grain and dairy began to dominate our diets. Archaeological discovery concludes that whenever and wherever humans farmed in place of hunting and gathering, health problems appeared. Farmers quickly grew shorter than their ancestors. Their bones and teeth show a high incidence of osteoporosis, rickets, bone mineral disorders, scurvy, rickets, vitamin A and Zinc deficiencies along with iron deficiency anemia.
Today we are living amidst a pandemic of health problems referred to as \”Syndrome X\” diseases and they include hypertension, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, and dyslipidemia (low HDL, elevated triglycerides, and small-dense LDL cholesterol. Even gout can be grouped in with these diseases.
What is the solution to our worlds\’ problems? The answer lies in our genetic needs. We absolutely must get back to living as we were designed. Until we take notice and understand that the convenience of our modern society sets us up to fail in our quest and desire for health, we will continue to decline. Explore all of the benefits of a Paleolithic diet and start applying them in your life today. Study from those who came before you and start eating in the manner you were designed to. With the appropriate knowledge, direction, discipline and a clear purpose, we have the potential to eliminate these health problems.
Dr. Shaun Stuto is a Missoula Chiropractors and the founder/owner of Transformation Chiropractic in the heart of beautiful downtown Missoula, Montana. Visit our website today and find out how you can start living a life of abundant health!
