Eating Paleo: A Prehistoric Diet for the Modern Day

Evolution of Modern Man

So unless you've been living in a cave, you've probably heard of the Paleo Diet. Actually scrap that, if you have been living in a cave, chances are you live by the paleo diet. Also referred to as the Caveman Diet or the Hunter-Gatherer Diet, paleo takes the modern food-eater back 2.5 million years to the diet of our long gone ancestors.

With slogans like "so easy a caveman can do it", Paleo focuses on bringing nutrition back down to the basics. The diet is centred around lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, roots and nuts and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar and processed oils. 

The major scientific premise underlying the paleo diet is the argument that human genetics have changed very little in the last 2.5 million years, meaning that we are adapted to eat the diet of our caveman ancestors.

For people new to the Paleo Diet, it can seem confusing. As a general rule, always think back to "shopping the perimeter". Essentially, when you're at the supermarket, concentrate on filling your basket with fresh produce and avoiding the processed foods found down the aisles. Of course, it is a little more complex than that.

Generally speaking, the Paleo Diet promotes a healthy diet focussing on fresh produce. As far as "diets" go, Paleo is great because it doesn't involve cutting out essential food groups like other fad diets. It promotes balanced, healthy, fresh, organic and local.

There is a wealth of information out there for you if you are considering starting the Paleo Diet. We really like the information available at Ultimate Paleo Guide. They offer a very comprehensive overview of the "rules" of the diet, its benefits, and some great eating plans. If you want something a little easier to digest, try out this CrossFit Paleo Diet For Dummies guide, which illustrates the diet in an easy to understand way.

Not ready to lunge straight into a hardcore diet yet? Changing eating habits overnight can a) seem daunting and b) lead to failure. Why not read the material on the Paleo Diet and consider it when doing your weekly food shopping? Avoid highly processed foods, aim for fresh, local produce and lean proteins.

Do you follow the Paleo Diet? Have any great Paleo recipes? We would love to hear your thoughts, leave us a comment on this post and share your views on this diet!