(RxWiki News) People are becoming more aware of healthy eating, and some people are looking towards our ancestors for the answers of how to eat healthier.
The Paleolithic diet and raw food diet are claiming to be "natural" because they rely on foods in their more natural states.That is, they aren't processed or cooked.
Kristen Gremillion, associate professor of anthropology at the Ohio State University, says there isn't one "natural" diet that's best. Gremillion is the author of the book Ancestral Appetites: Food in Prehistory. The book focuses on food and preparation methods that have evolved with us.
"Don't be fooled by "natural" diet claims."
The new Paleolithic diet claims to be a "natural" diet because it's basically the caveman's diet. The eating plan focuses mainly on lean meats, fruits and vegetables while staying clear of processed foods and grains.
While the Paleolithic diet is a healthy diet, grains should not be completely eliminated. They're a reliable, healthy food source, according to Gremillion.
On the other hand, the "all natural" raw food diet is based on getting calories from uncooked and unprocessed foods. While it is true that cooking removes some of the nutrients in food, cooking also makes it easier to chew, which in turn makes the nutrients easier for the body to absorb.
According to Gremillion, it is not sensible to stop cooking all together because it still provides plenty of other benefits.
We no longer have to eat like cavemen or straight out of the garden to have a healthy diet. What's more important is finding the types of foods that meet the needs of our individual bodies.
