7 Scientifically Proven Benefits of the Paleo Diet

We have all been exposed to years of conflicting information about what constitutes a healthy diet, this is of course increasingly frustrating and confusing. The Paleo approach is emerging as the one dietary philosophy, which is here to stay. It is changing lives and promoting real, fresh and whole food.

We have summarized a few of the incredible, scientifically proven benefits of the Paleo diet.

1) Sustained weight loss (1)

For many of us this ranks at the top of the list in terms of benefits. Weight loss is one great advantage, but studies have proven that the Paleo diet is not just about flash in the pan weight loss, and rather ongoing sustained weight loss.

A recent study showed that even over a 2 year period the Paleo diet comes out on top.(1) This could be due to increased satiety and number of other factors but we love this benefit! (2)

2) Increased satisfaction-less hunger (2)

Being hungry seems to be a common complaint for many of us. Breakfast cereals don’t fill us and so we are hungry an hour after breakfast. Ever found yourself standing at the fridge in the middle of the night? We blame it on hunger and nutrient poor meal choices. Unfortunately never ending hunger often leads to instant gratification and therefore poor dietary choices.

An amazing benefit of the Paleo diet is satiety, which in a nutshell is being satisfied with your meal and not having strange and frequent cravings for food, especially when you have just eaten. The awesome thing about satiety is that you tend to eat less frequently and be more in tune with actual hunger and not other types of hunger, which stem from thirst or emotion.

Researched in a recent study attributed this to an increase in protein in Paleo meals which helps to keep us fuller for longer (2).

Eating less ultimately leads to weight loss or weight stability, which as we’ve already pointed out is the best benefit, a win-win!

3) Reduce inflammation (3)

The Paleo diet is extremely rich in healthy fats and nutrient dense foods such as nuts and vegetables. The Paleo philosophy also encourages grass fed beef, wild salmon and free-range eggs, which are sustainably farmed and ethically sourced. All these factors lead to a higher intake of nutrients as well as the correct ratio of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

The beauty of the correct ratio of Omega’s is the overall reduction of inflammation in the body. If you are young you may not be aware of inflammatory processes but unfortunately as we age these inflammatory processes become more and more prevalent leading to diseases such as atherosclerosis and peptic ulcers. 

If you already suffer from any sort if inflammation you will see a huge difference in the reduction of your symptoms and if you are only in your twenties consider it as an investment into the health of your future self.

4) Improved glucose tolerance; decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin sensitivity (5,6,7,8 )

Just like inflammation it might be that you are too young to worry about Diabetes and insulin resistance. This does not mean that it could not happen to you in your future. 1.4 Million Americans are diagnosed with Diabetes each and every year and the worry is that this number is only increasing due to poor diet and a lack of exercise. 

The good news is that you can not only prevent insulin resistance but also drastically improve any existing glucose metabolism by following the Paleo philosophy. 

Studies have shown that the Paleo lifestyle prevents the advancement of insulin resistance as well as preventing Diabetes (8).

If you have already been diagnosed with Diabetes the Paleo diet can halt the progression of the disease (6). This means that you may eventually be able to stop using medication (in consultation with your doctor) as a result of effectively controlling your blood sugar levels.

5) Boosted immune system (11)

Buying fresh, wholesome and unprocessed food can get quite expensive. What is really expensive though is being sick. Medication and time off work can cost us far more now and in the future.

One of the incredible benefits of eating much more vegetables and fruit with every meal is the strengthening of your immune system. This translates to your body being able to fight off germs and viruses far more effectively than others who eat poorly. 

If you have chosen the Paleo way, get used to saying ‘I never get sick!’.

6) Improved lipid profiles (5,6,7,9,1)

According to the CDC, 1 in 4 deaths in America are due to heart disease. It is also the leading cause of death for both men and women. High LDL (bad cholesterol) is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, which can be improved through the Paleo diet.

Various studies have shown that the Paleo diet vastly improves lipid profiles. This means that the risk of heart disease then decreases. HDL (good cholesterol) has been recorded as increasing and total cholesterol as decreasing, which means that the risk of heart disease then greatly decreases.

Stepping away from highly processed sugary food to beautiful, wholesome food is the key!

7) Reduced risk of diseases of lifestyle: heart disease, diabetes and cancer (5,6,7,10 )

This benefit can be seen as a culmination of all the other benefits mentioned above. All in all the Paleo diet reduces our risk of developing the many diseases of lifestyle.