In a sea of new diet trends, one of the most popular is the Paleo diet, a modern-day meal plan inspired by our hunting-and-gathering caveman ancestors. So what makes this plan different from other diet fads – and is it really good for you?

The answer is yes and no, says Shayna Komar, a licensed and registered dietitian at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. “It’s primarily vegetables, fruit, grass-fed meat, fish, nuts, seeds and some healthy oils,” Komar explains. “It does not include dairy, a lot of grains or processed foods.”

The benefits of the Paleo diet

Komar says the Paleo diet’s chief benefit is that it eliminates processed foods and some fat, such as dairy, from your diet. “It’s really cleaning out your eating plan,” Komar says. “People love that. It’s great for your body, it gives you more energy, it takes away that sluggish, tired feeling that you often have, and it helps you lose weight.”

It emphasizes fruits, vegetables, fish and eggs, which have numerous health benefits. In moderation, grass-fed meat can be a healthy option. However, Komar cautions that the plan may include too much of a good thing – red meat.

Missing nutrients

While you might feel some positive effects and lose weight on the Paleo diet, it is important to look at the entire plan to make sure you are getting enough of certain food groups. “Sometimes with the Paleo diet, you miss vitamins and minerals,” Komar says. “It is lacking in calcium and vitamin D.”

Too much red meat

While red meat and bacon are staples in the Paleo diet, Komar says it is important to make sure you are choosing the right kind of meat – lean and grass-fed whenever possible.

“I think it’s put in this diet because it’s very satisfying, particularly bacon – they use a lot of bacon,” Komar says. “It has fat, so it gives you satiety and makes you feel good. But I don’t think that’s a positive benefit to the diet.” Too much high-fat meat can wreak havoc on your cardiovascular system.

“The fat that you’re allowed to consume is not very good for your heart,” she cautions. “From a cardiovascular standpoint, you have to be careful.”

Making the Paleo diet work for you

If you choose to follow the Paleo diet, speak with your doctor first. “It’s definitely one of those plans where if you want to follow it, you need to check with your doctor,” Komar says. “It can change your labs. You might lose a little bit of weight, but your cholesterol might go up.”

Focus on consuming healthy fats, like olive oil, avocado and some nut oils, instead of bacon and red meat. “Long term, that’s going to be better for your body than using some of those unhealthy fats,” she says.

The bottom line with the Paleo diet

“I think it can help you if you tweak it,” Komar says. “It’s fine to do hunting and gathering from the ancient times, but also use some of our modern medicine and research, knowing that healthy fats are going to be the way to go.

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