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Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Founder

As a professor at Colorado State University, Dr. Loren Cordain developed The Paleo Diet® through decades of research and collaboration with fellow scientists around the world.

When Dr. Cordain began working on the concept of The Paleo Diet®, curiosity for the optimal human diet drove his research. He wasn’t searching for opportunities to sell a product or promote a business.

His journey led to many years of collaboration with world-renowned scientists, including Dr. Boyd Eaton and Dr. Staffan Lindeberg. After 15 years of exploring all of the available research, The Paleo Diet® was born. Dr. Cordain coined the term “The Paleo Diet®” and wrote his first book to share their discovery with the world.

Recently Dr. Loren Cordain has made his body of over 100 peer-reviewed papers available for everyone on Researchgate.com.

Articles by Loren Cordain, Ph.D.: Page 3

All forms of added salt including sea salt and Celtic salt are unhealthy.

Is Sea Salt Healthy?

Loren Cordain, Ph.D. and Trevor Connor, M.S.

Paleo bloggers and influencers have claimed that added salt is healthy based on research showing a J-shaped relationship. But there were major flaws in this research. Added sodium in any form like sea salt, Celtic salt, Himalayan salt, or table salt is unhealthy.

Two ripe pomegranates hang from a tree.

How Healthy Are Pomegranates?

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Learn how the pomegranate is The Paleo Diet’s healthiest fruit.

Eliminating Non-Paleo Foods Improves Nutrient Density

Loren Cordain, Ph.D. and Trevor Connor, M.S.

We compare the nutrient density of Paleo foods to non-Paleo foods to show the health benefits of eating natural foods.

Pemmican made from wild game like this bison were a staple food of Plains Indians and many Native American cultures

Pemmican: A Plains Indians Staple Food that Prevented Protein Poisoning

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

"Rabbit starvation," or eating too much lean meat, can lead to disease or death. Here's how North American Indians avoided it.

Blankets and cookware on the ground in front of 3 Native American teepees

How the Eating Habits of American Plains Indians Contributed to Their Tall Statures

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

North American Plains Indians were the tallest people in the world, and they didn't have to drink milk to get there.

Do You Need to Supplement with Vitamin D?

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Not only do most individuals need more sun exposure, but not all foods high in vitamin D serve the body equally.

Is Maca Powder Paleo?

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Does the maca root share all the same anti-nutritional properties of other brassicas and can you consume maca powder on The Paleo Diet?

Various colored beans on a sheer white cloth

Are Beans Healthy? Why The Paleo Diet Bans Legumes

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Beans and legumes have been promoted by the USDA as nutritional equivalents to animal proteins. But science shows that beans and legumes contain antinutrients that can cause many health problems.

Different types of salt spread on a black background in the shape of an X

Added Dietary Salt Adversely Influences Immunity & Inflammation

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Research in humans has demonstrated that a high salt diet promotes chronic inflammation and adversely affects the immune system.

Evolution and High Protein Diets Part 3

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

A high protein diet actually reduces the risk of many diseases.

Evolution and High Protein Diets Part 2

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

The typical hunter-gatherer diet was high in protein.

Evolution and High Protein Diets Part 1

Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

By examining the environment under which our genome arose, we are able to determine if high protein diets are helpful or detrimental to our health.

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