Overview of the Paleo Diet
The Paleo diet, also known as the Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet, or cave man diet, is based on the types of foods presumed to have been eaten by early humans during the Paleolithic Era, which lasted from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. The modern Paleo diet includes foods that humans could have obtained through hunting and gathering, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. It excludes foods that became common with the advent of agriculture, such as grains, legumes, and dairy products.
Purpose of the Paleo Diet
The Paleo diet aims to align modern eating habits with the dietary patterns of early humans, under the premise that our genetics are better suited to such a diet. It suggests that the agricultural revolution introduced dietary changes that our bodies have not fully adapted to, potentially contributing to contemporary health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
How the Paleo Diet Works
The primary success of the Paleo diet stems from replacing processed foods with whole, nutrient-dense options. By eliminating high-calorie, high-sugar, and high-fat processed foods, the diet aims to promote weight loss, detoxification, and prevention of obesity-related diseases.
Foods Allowed on the Paleo Diet
The Paleo diet prioritizes whole, unprocessed foods, typically with a macronutrient distribution of about 35% carbohydrates, 35% fats, and 30% proteins. Allowed foods include:
- Meat and Poultry: Beef, lamb, pork, chicken, duck, and turkey
- Eggs: Whole eggs and egg whites
- Seafood: Salmon, cod, trout, sardines, clams, mussels, and shrimp
- Vegetables: Greens, artichokes, zucchini, asparagus, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, and broccoli
- Fruits: Berries, cherries, apples, peaches, pears, and avocados
- Nuts and Seeds: Pecans, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, and walnuts
- Certain Fats: Olive oil, ghee, avocado oil, and coconut yogurt
- Herbs and Spices: Turmeric, rosemary, black pepper, and mint
Paleo-friendly products, such as baking blends, crackers, breads, muffins, and cookies made with coconut and almond flour and natural sweeteners like dates and monk fruit, are also included.