Science

Key Concepts

One of the main tenets of The Paleo Diet® is to provide our physiology with foods that match our genetically determined nutritional requirements. These were established over a long period of human evolution long before both the agricultural and dairy revolution took place, let alone the industrial revolution which further drastically changed the human food supply away from our genetic requirements. These requirements have led to a number of key concepts that shape The Paleo Diet, and we address those concepts in this section.

Explore our Key Concepts Pages

 

The Evolutionary Approach

Human evolution occurred over 2.5 million years. During that span of time, the foods available to us have been inextricably linked to who we are genetically. Yet, 70 percent of the foods comprising our modern diet were introduced in the last 10,000 years. There simply hasn’t been ample time for evolution to keep pace with our rapidly changing diet. The Paleo Diet® helps us return to eating the foods we were designed to eat.

Read More

Macronutrient Ratios Versus Foods

The Paleo Diet is about eating whole, nutrient-dense foods in line with our hunter-gatherer ancestors—fruits, vegetables, lean meats, eggs, fish, nuts, and seeds—and avoiding the foods they didn’t eat, such as refined grains and sugar. The resulting macronutrient ratio is a byproduct of healthy eating, not the goal.

Read More

Sodium/Potassium Ratio

One of the main tenets of a Paleolithic diet is to provide our physiology with foods that match our genetically determined nutritional requirements. Dietary mismatches can result in health concerns, and many people are consuming a sodium (Na+)/potassium (K+) ratio 10 times greater than it should be.

Read More

Calcium/Magnesium Ratio

One of the main tenets of a Paleolithic diet is to provide our physiology with foods that match our genetically determined nutritional requirements. Dietary mismatches can result in health concerns, and many people are consuming a calcium (Ca2+)/magnesium (Mg2+) ratio more than twice what it should be.

Read More

Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio

One of the main tenets of a Paleolithic diet is to provide our physiology with foods that match our genetically determined nutritional requirements. Dietary mismatches can result in health concerns. Many people are consuming an omega-6/omega-3 ratio fifteen times greater than it should be.

Read More

Plant/Animal Ratio

There is a common misconception that The Paleo Diet® is an all-meat diet. In reality it is a balanced diet based on eating natural, minimally processed foods from plant and animal sources. By volume it is, in fact, primarily plant based.

Read More

Anti-inflammatory Diet

The human immune system operates in every organ in our bodies, and certain components circulate throughout our bloodstream. The immune system uses inflammation to protect us from bacteria, viruses, parasites, molds, and foreign proteins, as well as to heal wounds. Ideally, such threats are neutralized, and the associated inflammation is resolved. When the inflammatory response remains unresolved and becomes a chronic issue, it can spread damage throughout the body.

Read More

Nutrient Density

Central to the Paleo Diet® premise is the focus on natural nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, and lean meats while avoiding highly processed foods found on supermarket shelves that may be high in calories but are lacking in most everything else.

Read More

Low Glycemic Load

The low glycemic load of The Paleo Diet® is one of its most important features. High-glycemic load diets, such as the Western diet, are unnatural and contribute to insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome, both of which are precursors to a variety of disorders including diabetes, heart disease, and acne.

Read More

It’s Not Just About Substituting

One of the negative consequences of The Paleo Diet’s® popularity is that many self-labeled experts have put an inaccurate spin on what constitutes “Paleo.” Too many inflammatory, low nutrient-density products are being labeled “Paleo” simply because they have substituted a non-Paleo ingredient with a “Paleo” ingredient. That’s not how the diet works.

Read More

Scientific Myths

At The Paleo Diet®, we love a good scientific debate, and we will always adjust our position when the science calls for it. The problem is, so many of the scientific criticisms leveled at The Paleo Diet aren’t about the true diet at all—they are based on myths. Unfortunately, many people even in the scientific community believe them. Let’s set the record straight.

Read More

Supplements

On The Paleo Diet®, you focus on eating nutrient-dense foods. Because this is how humans evolved, you will achieve all of the recommended daily levels of every nutrient, vitamin, and mineral you need simply from the food you eat. Supplements, with the possible exception of vitamin D and sometimes omega-3s, should only be required in rare circumstances.

Read More

Explore This Category

 

The Trusted Source

• History of The Paleo Diet
• Seminal Research
• Paleo Studies

Disease Prevention

• Autoimmune Disease
• Cancer
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Asthma
• Digestive Diseases
• Acne
• Addressing Disease with Diet
• Preventative Care

Current News

Key Concepts

• The Evolutionary Approach
• Macronutrient Ratios Versus Foods
• Sodium/Potassium Ratio
• Calcium/Magnesium Ratio
• Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio
• Plant/Animal Ratio
• Anti-inflammatory Diet
• Nutrient Density
• Low Glycemic Load
• It’s Not Just About Substituting
• Scientific Myths
• Supplements

Key Nutrients

• Protein
• Carbohydrates
• Fat
• Fiber
• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Zinc
• Folate
• Vitamin A
• B Vitamins
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K/Menaquinones
• Other Micronutrients

Sustainability