One of the biggest problems older people face with the Paleo diet is that it limits the intake of carbohydrates, which are important sources of energy for the body. A diet that excludes these nutrients can cause rapid and serious weight loss, which can be dangerous for older people. The paleo diet may offer some potential benefits for older people, but it's important to note that individual results may vary and more research is needed to fully understand its impact on older adults specifically. Since the Paleo diet provides high levels of all essential nutrients with few or no empty calories, it is ideal for meeting the dietary needs of older people, who need as many vitamins and minerals as younger people, but generally must eat them in a smaller amount of food.
It's important to note that the paleo diet may not be right for everyone, including older people, and individualized dietary considerations, such as existing health conditions, nutrient needs, and personal preferences, should be considered. In fact, studies conducted on indigenous populations that follow a more traditional Paleo lifestyle have revealed significantly lower levels of heart disease and insulin resistance. Just as many adults can't digest milk after infancy (they lose capacity because they just don't need it), older people could “turn off” certain digestive adaptations that allow young people to survive on a suboptimal diet. Studies have confirmed that the paleo diet may be more effective5 than conventional low-fat diets for short-term weight loss.
There is currently no more scientific evidence to support the use of a paleo diet specific to older people. In a small study7 that compared the paleo diet with the Mediterranean diet (which is often considered the optimal way to eat), in patients with heart disease, those following the paleo diet experienced significantly greater improvements in blood glucose tolerance. While more studies are still needed, it seems that the paleo diet is a healthy way of eating (as long as you feel good doing it) that has stood the test of time for a reason. There is a correlation between negative obsessive behavior and restrictive diets, as well as diet-induced anxiety.
Just as ketogenic diets restrict whole food groups or macronutrient categories and encourage the consumption of foods that make you feel satisfied, the paleo diet does the same. It's clear that a paleo diet low or moderate in carbohydrates provides the optimal macronutrient composition and a large amount of micronutrients vital for healthy aging. It's important to note that the Paleo diet is a controversial diet and its scientific basis is the subject of debate among nutrition experts.
