The paleo diet is gaining popularity, as many are keen to try it. Centuries ago, the diet our ancestors followed included fresh fruits, vegetables, and fresh meat. As a result, they were free from diseases and had a higher mortality rate until agriculture came into existence. Their eating habits, along with their physical activity, kept them in shape. On the other hand, with today’s lifestyle that includes no physical movement and consumption of processed foods, people are obese and suffer from several health conditions.

Here’s why the paleo diet is so trendy:

1. Paleo helps improve certain health conditions
The paleo diet includes only fresh fruits and vegetables, oils from seeds and nuts, lean meats, salmon and tuna fish, fresh nuts, and seeds. With the advent of agriculture and the introduction of legumes, grains, and dairy products, health problems, like obesity, cardiovascular ailments, and diabetes, began. Another reason to switch to the paleo diet is to lose weight. Researchers claim that when you start following the paleo diet, you are bound to lose at least 10% of your overall weight in seven weeks. This is because the foods in this diet are fibrous. Moreover, people suffering from diabetes and cardiovascular diseases have also shown remarkable signs of recovery.

2. Paleo diet rules
This diet is excellent when followed diligently. For it to work effectively, you have to avoid some foods. They are:

• Processed and packed foods
• Refined sugar and salt
• Dairy products
• Grains and legumes
• Potatoes

The paleo diet emphasizes the importance of drinking water and indulging in physical activity throughout the day as well.

3. Benefits of going paleo
There are no hard and fast rules to follow the paleo diet. The only rule is that it should exclude the intake of whole grains and include more carbohydrate-rich foods like tubers, vegetables, and meat. The benefits of following this diet are as follows:

• It lowers the levels of triglycerides
• Maintains blood pressure
• Maintains blood sugar level
• Decreases body weight
• Improves eating habits
• It improves the metabolism rate of the body
• It lowers the appearance of acne by lowering androgen
• It strengthens the bones

4. Cons of the paleo diet
The paleo diet does not include legumes and grains, which are rich sources of fiber and other nutrients. It also excludes dairy products that are rich in protein and calcium, which are considered to be healthy and nourishing. On the contrary, it insists on the consumption of nuts and domestic animals, which is expensive and not many can manage.

Moreover, this ancient diet was practical when the environment was clean and fresh. However, today’s pollution has washed off everything from nature. Following this diet to get results like our ancestors is highly unrealistic. However, following a healthy, balanced diet to some extent can help us stay fit.