Yahoo Lifestyle Paleo diet best for women
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Eating like a cavewoman could be the most effective weight loss diet for women
When compared to a modern diet, eating like our ancestors showed favourable results in lowering fat mass, abdominal obesity and triglyceride levels too. According to the study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition the long-term effects of a paleolithic diet point to sustained weight loss, lower kilojoule intake and potentially better general health.
The study tested two diets on a group of 70 overweight women (of postmenopausal age). Split into two groups, one ate a paleo diet (short for paleolithic) and the other a high-fibre, low-fat diet in line with modern nutrition recommendations in Nordic countries.
The paleo diet is based on a strict hunter-gatherer diet of meat, eggs, fish, fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables. That means grains (bye bye quinoa, rice, pasta), dairy (oh, beloved milk!), legumes, salt, processed foods and refined sugars are off the menu.
But despite - or because of - the restrictions, the women on the paleo diet lost more weight on average and had lower waist circumferences at both the six and 24 month intervals. Paleo eaters lost an average of 6.5kg after six months and 4.6kg at the two-year mark, while their companions on the modern Nordic diet lost an average of 2.6kg and 2.9kg, respectively. Paleo dieters also lost 11.1cm around their waist at six months and 3.7cm at two years compared to 5.8cm and 2cm in the other group.
Naturally, there are caveats. Firstly, the study didn't account for younger men or women, but the results suggest that similar results would be replicated in these groups. Secondly, while both groups met with dietitians throughout the study for various testing, dieters were not assigned an amount of food to eat, only what to eat and previous research by the same Swedish team has shown that those on paleo diets tend to eat less and have better satiety levels.
This means the triglyceride levels, blood pressure scores and weight loss were not based on equal portion sizes but a number of variables including appetite hormones. Improved satiety also contributes to overall satisfaction with a diet and more motivation to stick with it.
WH weight loss expert, Tara Diversi, says that the paleo diet isn't the only way to lose weight or comply to good eating habits. "It may help you lose weight more effectively, but we are unsure as to whether it keeps us healthier for longer. From the research into the benefits of plant based diets, it is hard to believe that this is the only healthy option."
And, while she likes that the paleo style of eating promotes eating real food over processed food, it's not a one-size fits all approach. "The concern for me is the amount of meat in this diet, and the fact that it cuts out legumes. For some people this is too much."
