What is the Paleo Diet?

Paleo is a simple dietary lifestyle that is based on foods that were eaten in the Paleolithic Era, and those foods alone. Those foods include meat, fish, nuts and seeds, vegetables, and  fruits. With the Paleo diet, you do not eat Neolithic Era foods that came after agriculture or animal husbandry were widespread. These foods include grains, dairy, beans/legumes, potatoes, sugar, and foods with lots of chemicals. Followers of the Paleo diet say that by eating the foods that we are genetically adapted to eat, you will become naturally lean, have acne-free skin, improved athletic performance, and experience relief from  metabolic-related and autoimmune diseases.

Our ancestors mostly ate foods that were easiest to hunt or gather where they were. As nomads we would have adapted to various mixes of foods. The amount of food consumed is up to the individual. You can make it meat heavy if you want, add more fruit and vegetables if you prefer, as long as the foods you eat are paleo. You may consume a raw food diet, as long as it falls into the paleo diet guidelines. You should eat when you are hungry, not at set times of the day. Your ancestors hunted in anticipation of hunger, and ate they needed to eat. You should do the same.

Oils should be restricted to those from fruits, such as olive oil, or palm oil, or from nuts, like walnut oil or coconut oil. Wild game meat is best, but grass-fed meat can be used as a serviceable substitute. No processed meats should be eaten, and you don't have to restrict the amount of fat you eat. Fish should be wild-caught. For everything else, organic is preferred, as you want your food to be natural and free of pollutants.

Eat the greatest variety of foods possible. You should use herbs and spices, as these were readily available and will make your food tasty. You shouldn't use sugar, or corn syrup. The only paleo sweetener is honey, and it should be eaten in small quantities. You could also use a small amount of coconut palm sugar. Salt should not be added to your food. After taking salt out of your diet, your taste buds will adjust and you won't miss it. The same thing happens with sugar. 

The only beverage that is paleo is water. Drink only when you are thirsty. If you want caffeine, green tea is the most paleo, because it is the least processed.

Paleo foods are nutrient dense, and supplements are not necessary. Vitamin D is the one exception to this. Many of us don't get enough sun, and if you don't eat liver regularly, you might need to take extra Vitamin D. Also, if you don't eat fish often, fish oil is another way to get Omega 3 fatty acids. The rest of your diet should be sufficient for your body's needs.

The Paleo diet will make you lean and healthy. It will lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, acne, gastrointestinal disease, autoimmune diseases, and more. Eat as your ancestors did, and start toward optimal health today.