The Basics of the Paleo Diet?

This principle diet is not about counting calories or strictly complying with dietary regimes. The Paleo diet is more so based on the diet of the hunter-gatherer in the Stone Age, hence where the name “Stone Age Diet” comes from.

This diet is exclusively made up of food that was already available to people in the Stone Age, such as meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits and nuts.

The Paleo diet is based on the assumption that human cells and organs of human metabolism have not changed significantly since the Stone Age.

The Paleolithic covered a period of nearly 2.4 million years ago, whereas all of the subsequent ages only cover about 15,000 years. In relation to when humans started domesticating animals for the first time about 10,000 years ago, the cultivation of grains was about 12,000 years ago.

The founders of the modern Stone Age diet, Boyd Eaton and Loren Cordain, argued that the human organism and metabolism have not yet adjusted to new foods such as dairy and grain products in this short time period. This is the reason why the Paleo diet excludes milk and grains.

Industrially processed and prepared foods such as sugar, ready-to-eat meals, alcoholic beverages or oils and fats that are made of non-stone-age plants (such as olive, peanut or corn) are also avoided.

Seasonal, organic and local food makes up the bulk of the Paleo diet. In addition to nutrition, broad types of movement are an essential part of the Paleo diet. Whether that’s through endurance or power sports, everything is permitted.

The Paleo diet clearly sets itself apart from other low-carb diets. Unlike the carbohydrate-restricted diet, unlimited amounts of high glycemic foods such as dried dates or figs are allowed.