Is The Paleo Diet Right For You?

The Downfalls Of The Diet

Despite its healthy food selection, following the Paleo Diet can potentially lead to calcium and vitamin D deficiencies, with side effects including weakness, diarrhea, and headaches, as the diet does not include dairy products, and the foods available have lower amounts of these nutrients. As a result, this could compromise bone health and density in an individual, which can lead to other serious health issues in the future. There is also a risk of toxins from the high fish consumption that is part of the diet.

Research into how effective the diet is with weight loss generated poor results, as one trial found improvements in weight and fat loss after six months, however, the benefits had ceased by twenty-four months, with side effects that included weakness, diarrhea, and headaches, similar to nutritional deficiencies participants can experience. Experts believe any weight loss incurred is the result of calorie restriction, rather than any specific benefit of the diet itself.