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Paleo 101

Take the first step towards optimal health! Learn key concepts from the founders of The Paleo Diet.

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The Paleo Diet® Premise

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Ten Things Paleo Bloggers Tell You Are Paleo (But They Really Aren’t!)

By Megan Patiry

Paleo: The Diet You Can Actually Stick With

By Aimee McNew

Your Paleo Answers – Most Common FAQ's About The Paleo Diet®

By Jane Dizon

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

If you've heard of The Paleo Diet, but don't know where to start check out our simple guide to what you should and should not eat on The Paleo Diet.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

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

To Eat or Not to Eat

The Paleo Diet consists of foods the human species evolved to eat - but not all foods are black and white.
Here's what you should and should not eat to stay healthy!

TPD, Alcohol Consumption and Sulfites in Wine, Beer, and Food FI

Is Coffee Paleo?

Technically, no - but it still can have therapeutic benefits!

Are Natural Sugars Paleo?

You can’t simply replace artificial sugar with stevia, but small amounts of honey or maple syrup are Paleo-inspired.

Are Potatoes Healthy?

Sweet potatoes, yes! White potatoes, no.

Is Bacon Paleo?

Bacon is highly processed, thus not Paleo. But don’t panic, there are bacon substitutes!

Is Alcohol Paleo?

Dr. Cordain says moderate alcohol consumption is okay! But watch out for sulfites.

Are Beans and Legumes Healthy?

Nope! And that includes peanuts.

Technically, no - but it still can have therapeutic benefits!

You can’t simply replace artificial sugar with stevia, but small amounts of honey or maple syrup are Paleo-inspired.

Sweet potatoes, yes! White potatoes, no.

Bacon is highly processed, thus not Paleo. But don’t panic, there are bacon substitutes!

Dr. Cordain says moderate alcohol consumption is okay! But watch out for sulfites.

Nope! And that includes peanuts.

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Paleo 101

Browse a variety of topics that explain what The Paleo Diet is all about.

Defining the Paleo Diet

Start here to learn the basics of The Paleo Diet.

What to Eat on the Paleo Diet

Which foods are, and which aren't, Paleo?

The Paleo Diet Benefits

Learn why you should make the switch for better health and energy.

Paleo Myths

Learn about the many misconceptions of The Paleo Diet.

Paleo vs. Other Diets

Learn how The Paleo Diet stacks up against other diets.

Testimonials and Success Stories

Hear from our other readers and their success stories with the diet.

Most Recent Paleo 101 Articles

How to Apply The Paleo Diet 85/15 Rule

Need more wiggle room in your diet? Try this categorized approach to dieting that will get you results while allowing you to enjoy your favorite off-limit foods.

By Mark J. Smith, Ph.D.

Is Vinegar Paleo?

If you choose your vinegar wisely and consume it in moderation, vinegar can be a part of your Paleo Diet.

By Megan Patiry

Are Nut Butters and Seed Butters Paleo?

In pure form, your favorite nut and seed butters are part of The Paleo Diet—but only in moderation.

By Irene Jay

What to Eat If You’re Intermittent Fasting

Your success with intermittent fasting can depend on many things. Critical among them are the foods you eat between periods of fasting. We take a closer look at why this is.

By Megan Patiry

How Diet Can Help (or Hurt) Migraines

Chronic inflammation is at the heart of migraines. Here’s how to change your diet, and supplements to consider, to reduce the occurrence of these painful headaches.

By David Seaman, D.C., M.S.

I Tried The Paleo Diet for Seven Days. Here's What Happened.

Try Our Seven-Day TruePaleo™ Challenge

I decided to go Paleo, cold turkey, for seven days - and you can too! Even after a short time I had lost weight and was sleeping better. If you're looking to improve your health and wellness, go Paleo!

Kick-Start Your Health

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The Collection

Discover the books that started the original Paleo movement

Gain a greater understanding of The Paleo Diet, and how you can use food to nourish and support your journey to better health.

Discover our books

Explore This Category

Defining The Paleo Diet

The Paleo Diet Benefits

Paleo Versus Other Diets

Testimonials and Success Stories

Basic Myths

Paleo Leadership

Trevor Connor

Dr. Loren Cordain’s final graduate student, Trevor Connor, M.S., brings more than a decade of nutrition and physiology expertise to spearhead the new Paleo Diet team.

Dr. Mark J. Smith

One of the original members of the Paleo movement, Mark J. Smith, Ph.D., has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the benefits of Paleo nutrition.

Nell Stephenson

Ironman athlete, mom, author, and nutrition blogger Nell Stephenson has been an influential member of the Paleo movement for over a decade.

Dr. Loren Cordain

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.

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