Paleo Diet Ranks Last on 'Best Diets' List

Nutrition
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(By Jacque Wilson, CNN)–
Followers of the Paleo Diet may go prehistoric on U.S. News & World Report this week. The publication has ranked the controversial diet last on its “Best Diets Overall” list for 2014.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report asks experts to rank various nutrition plans to help consumers make informed decisions. This year the panel evaluated 32 of the most popular diets.

To be top-rated, a diet has to be relatively easy to follow, nutritious, safe, effective for weight loss and protective against diabetes and heart disease.

First popularized in the 1970s, the Paleo Diet asks people to follow a diet similar to those who lived during the Paleolithic era, between 2.6 million and 10,000 years ago. This means eating like hunters and gathers – consuming lots of produce and animal protein, while avoiding sugar, grains, legumes and dairy altogether.

“If the cavemen didn’t eat it, you shouldn’t either,” U.S. News & World Report summarized.

The diet has gained a significant following in recent years, especially among the CrossFit crowd. “Paleo Diet” was the most searched diet term on Google in 2013.

Being last on the Best Diets list doesn’t mean Paleo is the worst diet ever (the “Cookie Diet” didn’t even make the list). But U.S. News & World Report’s experts said the Paleo Diet was too restrictive for most people to follow long term, and that it limited some essential nutrients. They also cited a lack of research proving the Paleo Diet’s cardiovascular health and weight loss benefits in their ranking.

The Paleo Diet tied for last place on the list alongside the Dukan diet, which is also a high-protein, low-carbohydrate approach.

For the fourth year in a row, the DASH Diet Eating Plan was named the best overall diet. DASH, or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, was developed by the National Institutes of Health for people with high blood pressure. But it is also effective in lowering cholesterol and reducing a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney stones and diabetes, its website states.

Unlike many diet plans, DASH doesn’t cut out or extremely restrict certain foods. Its focus is on limiting daily sodium intake. The meal plan includes three whole-grain products each day, four to six servings of vegetables, four to six servings of fruit, two to four servings of dairy products and several servings each of lean meats and nuts/seeds/legumes.
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The diet’s only downfalls, the expert panel said, are that it takes some “grunt work” to adhere to, and that it may cost more than a diet based on “processed, fatty, sugary foods.”

Following DASH on the best overall list was the Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Diet, which also was created by the National Institutes of Health. Next in line were the Mayo Clinic Diet, the Mediterranean Diet and Weight Watchers – all tied for third place. This is the same as last year’s ranking.

U.S. News & World Report also published several other lists, including best weight-loss diets, best diabetes diets, best commercial diet plans and easiest diets to follow.

Weight Watchers topped the best weight-loss, best commercial diet plan and easiest to follow lists. Also high on several lists were the Jenny Craig plan and “The Biggest Loser” plan.

For more, visit U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diets Rankings.

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Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead!

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[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time.

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And Im sure those same people use showers and drive cars etc etc. Being paleo (unless youre going to go whole30) doesnt not mean committing to the exact lifestyle of a caveman. For sick and fat people its a fantastic diet. What kind of proof would you need? There are already several articles written on the subjects you spoke of above negating what you say. The nutrient thing though Im interested in. Why’d you say that?

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[quote]JLone wrote:

[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time. [/quote]

What essential nutrients are lacking?

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[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]JLone wrote:

[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time. [/quote]

What essential nutrients are lacking?
[/quote]

I’m curious too, because I think the people who did the study made that part up.

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A pic of the author

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[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]JLone wrote:

[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time. [/quote]

What essential nutrients are lacking?
[/quote]

Lacking macronutrients probably. The only carb source in strict Paleo is fructose, which is idiotic.

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[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:

[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]JLone wrote:

[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time. [/quote]

What essential nutrients are lacking?
[/quote]

Lacking macronutrients probably. The only carb source in strict Paleo is fructose, which is idiotic.
[/quote]

Sweet potato, yams, squashes, parsnips, etc. If you need a lot of carbs cassava. The article is stupid. Lack of long term research? You eat good fats, meats, veggies and avoid processed shit.

The diet can be a bit more difficult for athletes but, considering the people these articles are aimed at why is the lack of starchy/dense carbs an issue? They should be taking in less.

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Main stream media portrays dieting as a one size fits all approach… Let’s face it everyone responds different to different diets. Most people reading this forum are not “normal” people. When you wake up excited to train next, and pull 600lbs for double, then your not following weight watchers. It all keyword marketing propaganda.

Paleo growing up we called those guys corn feed boy. They ate eggs meat corn because that’s what they had on the farm. Trust me they were big boys too. I trained people scared to death of protein and fats because the late night news said protein causes kidney failure and fat causes heart attacks and obesity.

My last rant is the research methodology is to the point were the research is so backasswards that unless you are a person with the exact demographics as the population they used the research does not apply to the mass population. You put a bunch of obese people on a diet and compare them to other obese people not on a diet the only thing your research shows is the diets application to obese people.

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[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:
Lacking macronutrients probably. The only carb source in strict Paleo is fructose, which is idiotic.
[/quote]

Sweet potato, yams, squashes, parsnips, etc. If you need a lot of carbs cassava. The article is stupid. Lack of long term research? You eat good fats, meats, veggies and avoid processed shit.

The diet can be a bit more difficult for athletes but, considering the people these articles are aimed at why is the lack of starchy/dense carbs an issue? They should be taking in less.[/quote]

Some “paleo-type” approaches also allow for white rice. (fewer anti-nutrients than other grains)

Honestly, no one should be terribly surprised by such “mainstream articles” anymore. Heck, the “mainstream” is still villifying saturated fats, egg yolks etc.

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[quote]Rhess wrote:
Main stream media portrays dieting as a one size fits all approach… Let’s face it everyone responds different to different diets. Most people reading this forum are not “normal” people. When you wake up excited to train next, and pull 600lbs for double, then your not following weight watchers. It all keyword marketing propaganda.

Paleo growing up we called those guys corn feed boy. They ate eggs meat corn because that’s what they had on the farm. Trust me they were big boys too. I trained people scared to death of protein and fats because the late night news said protein causes kidney failure and fat causes heart attacks and obesity.

My last rant is the research methodology is to the point were the research is so backasswards that unless you are a person with the exact demographics as the population they used the research does not apply to the mass population. You put a bunch of obese people on a diet and compare them to other obese people not on a diet the only thing your research shows is the diets application to obese people.[/quote]

Well said.

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[quote]hipsr4runnin wrote:
And Im sure those same people use showers and drive cars etc etc. Being paleo (unless youre going to go whole30) doesnt not mean committing to the exact lifestyle of a caveman. For sick and fat people its a fantastic diet. What kind of proof would you need? There are already several articles written on the subjects you spoke of above negating what you say. The nutrient thing though Im interested in. Why’d you say that?[/quote]
Are you replying to me?

I don’t really have a dog in this fight I just found the article on CNN and thought it might spark an interesting discussion on the subject.

Also, the nutrient thing is directly from the article and I am not sure where the author got any of her information.

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[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]Ripsaw3689 wrote:

[quote]xXSeraphimXx wrote:

[quote]JLone wrote:

[quote]Majin wrote:
Oh, no. It’s too restrictive for the lazy fat fuckers. Let’s eat Weight Watchers ice cream instead![/quote]

Well thought out and articulate… The article also mentions lack of essential nutrients, high cost, lack of long term research and lack of weight loss if you would like to put in your 2 cents of any of those issues as well.

Personally having known many people who claim to be “primal” and yet still drink alcohol and coffee and “cheat” every now and again I can tell you that it is hard to eat strictly paleo for a long periods of time. [/quote]

What essential nutrients are lacking?
[/quote]

Lacking macronutrients probably. The only carb source in strict Paleo is fructose, which is idiotic.
[/quote]

Sweet potato, yams, squashes, parsnips, etc. If you need a lot of carbs cassava. The article is stupid. Lack of long term research? You eat good fats, meats, veggies and avoid processed shit.

The diet can be a bit more difficult for athletes but, considering the people these articles are aimed at why is the lack of starchy/dense carbs an issue? They should be taking in less.[/quote]

Many people I have known only used fruit as their carb source. I tried to explain how fructose is absorbed differently than other forms of carbs, but it fell on deaf ears. I was unaware that starchy roots were acceptable Paleo.

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I think alot of people get caught up in the intensity of paleo. IMO some people go way too far with it to the point its like a cult. Sure all the hormone free stuff is great, suporting farmers, blah, blah… 90% of the benifits from paleo can be ahieved with low carbing & just cutting processed crap…I’ve done both Paleo and the Anabolic diet before… Personally AD or just carbs under 100G is a much more EZ lifestyle choice that will do the same thing. Once your body starts using fat for fuel you wont give a shit if its duck lard & elk ass or a bacon cheesburger no bun just my .02

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[quote]JLone wrote:

Weight Watchers topped the best weight-loss, best commercial diet plan and easiest to follow lists. [/quote]

http://www.fathead-movie.com/index.php/2010/01/29/weight-watchers/

:slight_smile:

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Almost forgot this one as well:

I think a lot of the “experts” answer to some form of special interest, including the fact that their credentials and titles are based on flawed research (and you really wouldn’t want to admit that all you have is a PHD in bullshitting) and BS politics.