The popular Paleo diet has won the approval of Dr. Mehmet Oz, who now touts Paleo Diet as a healthy way to increase weight loss and to prevent heart disease and diabetes, according to a recent article by Celebrity Fitness and Health Examiner Samantha Chang.
Oz, who Chang said used to preach the benefits of a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet, announced Feb. 17 during an episode of his namesake show OZ that he is thoroughly convinced of the health benefits of the low-carb, high-fat Paleo diet.
In her article, chang summed up quite nicely why the diet works so well, explaining, “Proponents say the Paleo dramatically curbs inflammation, which drives obesity, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, depression, and even Alzheimer’s.”
Chang said Oz told audience members that by following tips such as those listed below they could realistically expect to lose 75 pounds in six months time.
Oz recommended dieters make these Paleo practices daily habits:
Choose fruits low in sugars like blueberries and apples
Steer clear of cage-raised proteins and opt for high-quality, free-range meats instead
Eat only healthy fats such as that from avocado and olive oil, among others
Skip starchy vegetables and reach for vitamin rich veggies like kale or broccoli
As with most diets, Paleo says no to sugars, alcohol, processed foods, and anything else logic tells us to avoid.
When compared to the results people experienced on the low-carb Paleo diet, Chang reported in her article that research presented by Umeå Univesity scientists during the episode proved the Paleo diet twice as effective as the traditional high-carb diets Oz once endorsed. The scientists concluded that persons on a high-carb diet lose only half as much body weight and belly fat and control diabetes half as successfully as those following the Paleo diet.
Author of “Paleoista” and “The Paleo Diet Cookbook” co-author Nell Stephenson and holistic-health expert Chris Kresser both appeared on the show, said Chang. She further reported Stephenson’s certainty that the Paleo diet is not a fad but one people will follow for years to come because it furnishes our bodies with the right amounts of proteins, fats and vegetables, and not focused on calorie counting.
Kresser, author of “Your Personal Paleo Code,” is included in the report as agreeing with Stephenson and says by not focusing on calories and by giving our bodies what they need, dieters following the Paleo diet do not feel deprived or hungry.
Moreover, dieters have the ability to tweak the diet to fit lifestyle needs and to accommodate dieters’ individual genetic make-up. The key, Kresser reportedly said, is to avoid simple carbohydrates and processed foods.
Chang further said Stephenson recommends the diet as especially beneficial to women because it balances out female hormones that otherwise make loosing weight difficult. Other appealing side effects of the diet include better digestion and smoother skin.
Today, for better health, increased weight loss, and to prevent disease, ketogenic diets like Paleo reportedly get two thumbs up from Oz.