Paleo 101

Defining the Paleo Diet

You’ve likely heard of The Paleo Diet®, Paleolithic nutrition, or the hunter-gatherer diet to describe a way of eating that mimics the diet of our ancestral past. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation about the diet, but when you get down to the basics, it's just eating a lot of vegetables, fruits, lean meats, fish, eggs and some nuts and seeds - what you find at your local farmer's market.

Expand For More

The basic argument for following this way of eating is that, for most of human history, it is how we ate, and it subsequently shaped our genetics.

This is particularly true in terms of how we, as humans, respond to the foods we eat, to the prevention of disease, and the vitality of our species. While there have been massive changes in the food supply—starting with the agricultural revolution 10,000 years ago, then, the advent of dairy farming 5,000 years ago, and the more recent industrial revolution—our genetic makeup has not kept pace.

Humans do adapt to changes. For example, the genetic mutation that led to the development of adult lactase persistence (ALP) - allowing some of us to digest lactose in milk into adulthood - took place very recently, from an evolutionary standpoint. But when looked at in terms of human generations, we actually adapt very slowly. This can result in an incongruence between our physiology and our environment. That is the case with the typical modern diet in the Western world. Over 70 percent of the foods we eat were introduced since our last major evolutionary change and we simply haven't caught up.

There are many nutritional advantages to following a more ancestral nutrient-rich diet comprised mainly of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fish, shellfish, grass produced meats and organ meats, free-range poultry, free-range eggs, nuts, and certain healthful oils.

The Paleo Diet avoids or eliminates processed foods containing refined sugars, refined grains, refined vegetable oils, trans fatty acids, salt, and added chemicals. Fresh fruits and fresh vegetables, good sources of healthier carbohydrates, are consumed ad libitum in lieu of refined sugars, refined grains, and processed foods. As a result, The Paleo Diet is a low glycemic load diet which promotes normalization of blood glucose, insulin, and helps prevent the metabolic syndrome.

In addition, the foods that constitute a modern Paleo Diet contain few problematic dietary anti-nutrients such as lectins, which can lead to a host of health concerns, including autoimmune diseases.

Ultimately, providing our physiology with foods that match our genetically determined nutritional requirements is why The Paleo Diet will provide you with long lasting health.

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

In today's post, we explore some of the most frequently asked questions we receive about the Paleo lifestyle and Paleo health benefits. Follow our blog for Paleo recipes, meal plans, and more!

By Jane Dizon

Dr. Cordain Interview for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

In today's post, Dr. Cordain answers an interviewer's questions about Paleo diets for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which registers RDs in the United States.

By Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Loren Cordain, Ph.D. in Men's Fitness

Learn about the benefits of the paleo diet in men & athletes. Browse The Paleo Diet® website for paleo diet news, paleo diet tips, diet plans & more!

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Is There a Single Paleo Diet?

Learn more about The Paleo Diet® & its benefits. Visit our website for delicious & free Paleo Diet recipes for lunch, dinner & breakfast today!

By The Paleo Diet® Team

Definitive Evidence The Paleo Diet is Mainstream

Learn more about how The Paleo Diet® is mainstream. Visit our website for the latest Paleo Diet news, tips, Paleo recipes & Paleo Diet cookbooks.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

A Lifestyle Trending

The Paleo Diet® is your #1 online source for Paleo recipes. Visit our website for our Chicken Vegetable Soup recipe, Paleo Diet articles & more!

By Loren Cordain, Ph.D.

Welcome to The Paleo Diet® Blog!

Welcome to The Paleo Diet Blog!--the world’s healthiest diet--based on simpley understanding that the best human diet is the one to which we are genetically

By The Paleo Diet® Team

The Paleo Diet® Food Pyramid

Check out the paleo diet food pyramid & learn more about the paleo diet. The Paleo Diet® is your #1 source for paleo news, recipes & paleo food lists.

By The Paleo Diet® Team

First 1 2

Explore This Category

 

Defining The Paleo Diet

What to Eat on the Paleo Diet®

• Is It Paleo?
• Gluten- and Grain-Free
• Avoid Simple Sugars
• Avoid Added Salt
• Dairy-Free
• Legumes and Nightshades
• Supplements

The Paleo Diet Benefits

The Paleo Diet 85-15 Rule

Paleo Versus Other Diets

• A comparision between Paleo and Whole 30
• A comparison between Paleo, Keto, and Other Low-Carb Diets
• A Comparison Between Paleo and Intermittent Fasting
• A comparison between Paleo and Plant-Based Diets

Testimonials and Success Stories

Basic Myths

Digests