Is the Paleo diet, an eating plan modeled on prehistoric human diets, right for modern humans?
A paleo diet is a dietary plan based on foods similar to what might have been eaten during the Paleolithic era, which dates from approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.
A paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds — foods that in the past could be obtained by hunting and gathering. A paleo diet limits foods that became common when farming emerged about 10,000 years ago. These foods include dairy products, legumes and grains.
Other names for a paleo diet include Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet and caveman diet.
I hate to even call it a "diet", because it's really just the REAL way that humans have eaten for almost 1.9 million years, as opposed to the modern day processed food diet full of grains, sugars, and processed vegetable oils. Whether you have or not, what you probably DON’T realize is that it’s the fastest growing “diet” in the world right now.
Why you might follow a paleo diet
So let’s take a look at foods on the Paleo diet. This consists of meats, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and certain oils and fats. These are the foods that are ideal to start with, for turbo charging your body for optimal health for several reasons.
You might choose to follow a paleo diet because you:
- Want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight
- Want help planning meals
- Paleo foods are anti-inflammatory. Pain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, migraines, thyroid issues, and cancer are all disorders dealing with chronic inflammation.
Details of a paleo diet
Recommendations vary among commercial paleo diets, and some diet plans have stricter guidelines than others. In general, paleo diets follow these guidelines.
The acceptable foods for the Paleo diet, are from a nutritious food list that we’re personally adapted to eat.
What to eat
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Nuts and seeds
- Lean meats, especially grass-fed animals or wild game
- Fish, especially those rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, mackerel and albacore tuna
- Oils from fruits and nuts, such as olive oil or walnut oil
What to avoid
- Grains, such as wheat, oats and barley
- Legumes, such as beans, lentils, peanuts and peas
- Dairy products
- Refined sugar
- Salt
- Potatoes
- Highly processed foods in general
So, I’d like to invite you to join Paleo Factor, an online resource that helps you identify and prepare specific, REAL foods that are central to the Paleo diet. Even if you’ve never heard of the Paleo diet before — you’ll discover how to cook amazing, healthy Paleo meals that make your mouth water and nourish your body and mind!
You can become a member of Paleo Factor today and get access to over 1,000 Paleo diet recipes, meal plans, and shopping lists.