Paleo Diet Simplified

So, what is a paleo diet?

Lets break it down simply. The Paleo, or caveman, or hunter/gatherer diet is based upon the idea that human genetics have evolved little, if at all, since our paleolithic ancestors first roamed the earth. During this time there would have been ZERO dairy intake (could you imagine a caveman chasing down a wild animal and then milking it?). Complex carbs like those in bread/rice/starches would have been almost non-existent and gathering them in any large ammount would have been imposible, energy expending and ultimately not calorie efficint. In fact, palolithic man would have likely foraged for these food stuffs only in times of starvation. Furtrmore, the crops were NOTHING like they are today in either quantity or genetic makeup. Finally, anthropological studies have also shown that legumes (peanuts, beans, peas) would have been simmilar to grains in that they would not have been found in high ammounts or even in the form we now see them today.

Basically, paleo man survived on four food groups (from most important to least);

• LEAN protein (no grain fed cows/chickens back then)
• Vegetables
• Fruits and berries
• Nuts and seeds

He/she would NOT have had access to (or the desire to eat);

• Dairy
• Grains
• Legumes

This diet is a throwback to our ancestral (and present) genetic makeup that allo us to eat only those foods that we are biologically and evolutionarily designed to eat.

THAT is the paleo diet in a nutshell! (pun intended)

I will clarify specifics of the diet and nutritional data as well as scientific support as I go, so keep an eye out for updates! Next up will be Omega 3 vs. Omega 6 fatty acids... what the real deal on these very different fats?