THE trendy Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, is taking the world by storm.
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However, leading nutritionists and evolutionary biologists are not so convinced of its claims we’d be healthier if we ate more like our Stone Age ancestors.
University of Minnesota professor Marlene Zuk, who is in Australia presenting her research at the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) National Conference in Perth, said some people look to evolutionary heritage to make dietary decisions, but those decisions are not always based on evolutionary accuracy.
“The Paleo diet is based on the idea that human genetics have not changed or evolved over the past 10,000 years, since the time before the use of agriculture,” Professor Zuk said.
“But plenty of evidence exists that our genes have changed over the last few thousand years and these changes mean we can eat foods our hunter-gatherer ancestors could not.”
Professor Zuk adds that little is known about the actual foods eaten by our Paleolithic ancestors and that they probably ate many different diets depending on where they lived, so today’s Paleo diet likely does not reflect ancient eating patterns.
“Almost all of the foods available today are vastly different from the forms that our Paleolithic ancestors would have eaten, and this does not just mean ice cream, chips or even flour, but basics such as meats, fruit and vegetables,” Professor Zuk said.
The modern-day Paleo diet promotes mostly meat, fish, vegetables, nuts, animal fats and coconut oil, while foods that come from agriculture, including all grains, legumes, dairy foods and processed foods are avoided, and fruit is limited.
Renowned local nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton suggests the idea of emulating what people ate 10,000 years ago is impossible, given newly evolved varieties and plant breeding has completely transformed almost every vegetable.
“Everything is different with the exception of wild caught fish, kangaroo and some nuts,” Dr Stanton said.
“Modern meats come from different animals, vegetables and fruits are nothing like what they once were.
“Coconuts are still coconuts but our ancestors didn’t extract the oil. Our ancestors also ate the seeds of wild grasses (grains) and different types of legumes.
“More importantly, not all humans had the same diet – then or now. Humans are omnivores and can eat a wide variety of foods.”
Dr Stanton agreed with Professor Zuk, who suggested the idea human genetics have not evolved was inaccurate.
“Many humans have evolved to be able to digest lactose, the sugar in milk,” Dr Stanton said.
“In Australia, we even see children of migrants from areas where people can’t digest milk produce the enzyme to digest lactose, as this ingredient continues to be part of their diet.
“Claims we only grew fat since we started farming grains and dairy cows 10,000 years ago, totally ignores the fact that obesity and type-two diabetes were rare until 50 years ago. So we consumed grains and dairy products for 9500 years without getting fat or getting type-two diabetes.”
Dr Stanton said the immense popularity of the diet could be attributed to celebrity endorsement.
“I think its endorsement by celebrities has played a big role. It also restricts junk food – the biggest problem in most people’s diets – so naturally they feel better when they stop eating junk,” Dr Stanton said.
“The Paleo diet is also so restricted that people usually lose weight and that also makes them feel better – at least while they’re losing weight.”
Dr Stanton admitted there were benefits of the Paleo diet which were also in line with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
“There is no junk food, which means less sugar, salt and undesirable processed fats and much greater use of vegetables are good features.”