Designed by nature. Built by science.

Paleo 101

Explore the key concepts and benefits of the diet humans have evolved to eat.

Recipes

Ready to feed your DNA? Browse our delicious collection of recipes for any occasion.

Lifestyle

The Paleo Diet is about more than just healthy eating. Experience the complete Paleo lifestyle.

Science

The Paleo Diet was built on science. Dive into the research behind the world’s best diet.

Paleo 101

Lifestyle

Recipes

Paleo 101

Recipes

Science

Paleo 101

Science

Paleo 101

The Paleo Diet® Premise

Quite simply, The Paleo Diet® is the only diet to which the human species is genetically adapted. In other words, when you eat a Paleo Diet, you are eating the optimal foods for your body, literally programmed into your DNA.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

What to Eat This Week: November, Week 4

The week of Thanksgiving has finally arrived! Prepare for delicious holiday foods with this week's meal prep guide!

By Aimee McNew

Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

You don’t need oats for a crispy-crunchy apple crisp! Try our Paleo version of gooey apples with a nutty topping for a healthy dessert that’s ready in just an hour.

By Jess Case

Paleo Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower

Sheperd’s pie is a classic comfort food! Swap mashed potatoes for cauliflower and turnips and beef with turkey for a light and healthy dinner!

By Jess Case

What You Should and Should Not Eat on the Paleo Diet®

You’ve heard of the benefits of The Paleo Diet, but still don’t fully understand what it is. Or you’re looking for a simple guide to share with your family and friends who keep asking about it. Check out this simple guide to what you should eat and not eat on a Paleo Diet.

By Paul Vandyken

Explaining the 85/15 Principle

Make your diet sustainable with the 85/15 rule: 85 percent of your calories should be from Paleo foods while 15 percent can be from non-Paleo foods that you enjoy!

By Aimee McNew

Garlic Orange Herb Turkey

This turkey is bursting with flavors of garlic, citrus, and fresh herb for a Paleo recipe you'll want to use year after year!

By Jess Case

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower Recipe

Swap out mashed potatoes for cauliflower, for a healthier Thanksgiving side dish. Pureed cauliflower is still creamy and delicious, but easier to make!

By Jess Case

The Importance of the Calcium-to-Magnesium Ratio

We need calcium. No one is going to dispute that fact. But what may be more important than calcium in the diet is a healthy ratio of calcium and magnesium.

By Trevor Connor

Eliminating Non-Paleo Foods Improves Nutrient Density

Learn how eliminating non-paleo foods can help improve your nutrient density. Browse The Paleo Diet® blog for paleo diet news, paleo recipes & more!

By Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Hunt with the Amazonian Waorani Tribe

Watch an exclusive video of Waorani men hunt peccary in the rainforest from Dr. Douglas London’s Last Look Back Project.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Healthy Aging: Study shows high-carbohydrate diets promote dementia

Take a deep dive into research showing how eating a diet high in sugar can contribute to the onset of dementia and how a Paleo Diet can be protective

By David Whiteside

Fruits and Sugars

In general, fresh fruits are healthy, nutritious foods that are good sources of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber. However, the common fruits we eat today bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Ketogenic Diets: Long-term Nutritional and Metabolic Deficiencies

While the Paleo diet and ketogenic diets are often confused, they have important differences that need to be recognized. Read more about the potential drawbacks of a ketogenic diet in today's post.

By Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

The Paleo Diet: Designed by Nature, Built By Science

The Paleo Diet is the diet we evolved over a million years to eat and there is still a lot of science to show why it is still the best human diet.

By Mark J. Smith, Ph.D.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

This year, celebrate Thanksgiving without regret with our compilation of holiday classics turned Paleo compliant, though still just as delicious.

Garlic Orange Herb Turkey

This turkey is bursting with flavors of garlic, citrus, and fresh herb for a Paleo recipe you'll want to use year after year!

Butternut Squash Stuffing

You don’t need bread to make a tasty Paleo stuffing! This recipe uses roasted butternut squash, ground pork, fresh herbs, apples, and cranberries.

Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Swap out mashed potatoes for cauliflower, for a healthier Thanksgiving side dish. Pureed cauliflower is still creamy and delicious, but easier to make!

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel Topping

We recommend doubling this recipe so you have leftovers! This sweet potato casserole is topped with a delicious date and pecan streusel topping for a classic side dish.

Healthy Apple Crisp

You don’t need oats for a crispy-crunchy apple crisp! Try our Paleo version of gooey apples with a nutty topping for a healthy dessert that’s ready in just an hour.

Sausage and Apple Stuffed Acorn Squash

This Paleo recipe fills tender acorn squash with autumn flavors like sweet apple, savory sausage, and fresh sage for an easy, but impressive Thanksgiving side.

Paleo-Inspired New England Gingerbread Cookies

Whip up these healthier-for-you New England gingerbread cookies made without any wheat, refined sugar, or gluten for a Paleo-inspired treat!

This turkey is bursting with flavors of garlic, citrus, and fresh herb for a Paleo recipe you'll want to use year after year!

You don’t need bread to make a tasty Paleo stuffing! This recipe uses roasted butternut squash, ground pork, fresh herbs, apples, and cranberries.

Swap out mashed potatoes for cauliflower, for a healthier Thanksgiving side dish. Pureed cauliflower is still creamy and delicious, but easier to make!

We recommend doubling this recipe so you have leftovers! This sweet potato casserole is topped with a delicious date and pecan streusel topping for a classic side dish.

You don’t need oats for a crispy-crunchy apple crisp! Try our Paleo version of gooey apples with a nutty topping for a healthy dessert that’s ready in just an hour.

This Paleo recipe fills tender acorn squash with autumn flavors like sweet apple, savory sausage, and fresh sage for an easy, but impressive Thanksgiving side.

Whip up these healthier-for-you New England gingerbread cookies made without any wheat, refined sugar, or gluten for a Paleo-inspired treat!

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Our Most Recent Posts

Recipes

LIfestyle

Science

Paleo 101

Sweet Potato & Kale Egg Muffins

For a healthy, portable breakfast try these make-ahead, freezer-friendly sweet potato, kale and turkey bacon egg muffins.

By Jess Case

Paleo Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower

Sheperd’s pie is a classic comfort food! Swap mashed potatoes for cauliflower and turnips and beef with turkey for a light and healthy dinner!

By Jess Case

30-Minute Leftover Turkey Soup

Take your leftover game up a notch with this easy turkey and vegetable soup.

By Jess Case

Garlic Orange Herb Turkey

This turkey is bursting with flavors of garlic, citrus, and fresh herb for a Paleo recipe you'll want to use year after year!

By Jess Case

Healthy Apple Crisp Recipe

You don’t need oats for a crispy-crunchy apple crisp! Try our Paleo version of gooey apples with a nutty topping for a healthy dessert that’s ready in just an hour.

By Jess Case

Explaining the 85/15 Principle

Make your diet sustainable with the 85/15 rule: 85 percent of your calories should be from Paleo foods while 15 percent can be from non-Paleo foods that you enjoy!

By Aimee McNew

How to Make Any Take-Out Meal Paleo

Simple suggestions to make any restaurant or take-out meal fit with your Paleo Diet.

By Megan Patiry

Conquering Thanksgiving Paleo Style

Prepare for Thanksgiving with help from The Paleo Diet experts. We share how you can win during the Holidays without sacrificing your Paleo lifestyle!

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Why Sleeping Less Makes You Crave Junk Food

A recent study from Northwestern University found that people crave more calorie-dense foods when they are low on sleep and are further learning why this occurs.

By Casey Thaler

Take The Paleo Diet onto the Trails

Looking to hike or backpack? Here are the best Paleo snacks based on their weight, perishability, and nutrient-density to pack for the trails.

By Elisabeth Kwak

The Importance of the Calcium-to-Magnesium Ratio

We need calcium. No one is going to dispute that fact. But what may be more important than calcium in the diet is a healthy ratio of calcium and magnesium.

By Trevor Connor

Hunt with the Amazonian Waorani Tribe

Watch an exclusive video of Waorani men hunt peccary in the rainforest from Dr. Douglas London’s Last Look Back Project.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

The Importance of the Omega-6/Omega-3 Ratio to Human Health

Human beings evolved to consume a diet comprising approximately a 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids. While there has been a push for a higher consumption of omega-3, many people don’t realize they’re also over consuming omega-6.

By Mark J. Smith, Ph.D.

The Paleo Diet October 2020 Digest - Protein

October’s theme was centered around protein. We talk about the health risks of overconsuming protein and how to get enough protein from plant foods. We also discuss the in’s and outs of eggs.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Nell’s Corner: Three Protein Myths You Might Still Believe

We know we need protein, but things get confusing once we address how much we need and where we should be sourcing this important component of our diet. Read more for answers to common myths about protein.

By Nell Stephenson

Explaining the 85/15 Principle

Make your diet sustainable with the 85/15 rule: 85 percent of your calories should be from Paleo foods while 15 percent can be from non-Paleo foods that you enjoy!

By Aimee McNew

Hunt with the Amazonian Waorani Tribe

Watch an exclusive video of Waorani men hunt peccary in the rainforest from Dr. Douglas London’s Last Look Back Project.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Nell’s Corner: Three Protein Myths You Might Still Believe

By Nell Stephenson

How to Be Paleo When You Can’t Eat Eggs

It’s hard to beat the nutritional powerhouse that are eggs, but as the second most recurrent food allergen they’re not for everyone. Find out what foods have similar nutritional profile’s for an easy substitute.

By Aimee McNew

The Best Plant-Based Paleo Proteins

Interested in eating both vegetarian and Paleo? Here’s everything you need to know about proteins sourced from plants.

By Elisabeth Kwak

What to Eat This Week

Your 7-Day Paleo Meal Plan

Going Paleo doesn’t have to be confusing or mean eating the same things over and over. Every Sunday we’ll share a recipe for each day of the week to help you perfect your Paleo meal planning. Even Thanksgiving can be 100% Paleo with our help!

Get This Week's Recipes

The Salt Debate

Recently, Dr. Loren Cordain, Dr. Mark J. Smith, and Trevor Connor appeared on Dr. Paul Saladino's podcast to discuss the carnivore diet, fructose, and salt in the human diet. Read more about our positions on these topics in these key articles.

In his last public interview before retirement, Dr. Loren Cordain, joined by Trevor Connor and Dr. Mark J. Smith, debate the composition of the "real" Paleo Diet with Dr. Paul Saladino.

BY THE PALEO DIET TEAM

Is it healthy to add salt? Dr. Cordain addresses recent research showing a "J-shaped" relationship between salt consumption and mortality.

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D. AND TREVOR CONNOR, M.S.

Dr. Mark J. Smith explains the importance of the sodium-potassium ratio to human health. The Western diet, at 1:1 or worse, is in complete discordance with the practices of our hunter-gatherer ancestors who ate between 1:5 and 1:10.

BY MARK J. SMITH, PH.D., CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER

Does a low-salt diet cause insulin resistance? The limited research backing this claim has serious methodological flaws. Well-conducted studies tell a very different story: A high-salt diet causes insulin resistance. And potassium can reduce the impact.

BY TREVOR CONNOR, M.S.

What are the physiological mechanisms underlying high-salt diets and cancer? In this article, Dr. Cordain takes a deep dive into the science of the relationship between salt and cancer.

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D.

You often hear about the effects of salt on blood pressure and heart disease. However, its negative effects go well beyond that. Dr. Cordain explains how a high-salt diet can also contribute to inflammation and autoimmune disease.

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D.

Dietary salt impairs the endothelial glycocalyx—a delicate and fragile structure lining the inside surface of all blood vessels. It could be the most important cardiovascular disease risk factor you've never heard about.

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D.

BY THE PALEO DIET TEAM

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D. AND TREVOR CONNOR, M.S.

BY MARK J. SMITH, PH.D., CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER

BY TREVOR CONNOR, M.S.

BY LOREN CORDAIN, PH.D.