What is the Paleo Diet?

(EVERYDAY HEALTH, 2019)

The Paleo diet is a popular diet based on the belief that our bodies are genetically designed to thrive off eating certain foods, that align with the dietary patterns of our palaeolithic ancestors and were determined thousands of years prior to the development of civilisation (Cordain, 2010). It is essentially a high protein, low carbohydrate diet that focuses on whole foods, lean meats, fruit and vegetables and healthy fats (Whitney et al., 2016, p. 329). The Paleo diet is also often referred to as the ‘caveman diet’ or ‘prehistoric diet’ due to many Paleo enthusiasts suggesting that hunting and gathering is the basis of who we are and how we have evolved (Informit EduTV, 2015).

According to celebrity chef Pete Evans the Paleo diet is simple, it’s about consuming a third of a dinner plate, of meat sourced from animals that have had a natural diet, and filling the other two thirds of the plate with vegetables whilst still including some healthy fats. It’s also about removing grains, legumes, sugar and dairy from the diet (Informit EduTV, 2015). “It’s simple but it’s very different from how most of us eat” (Informit EduTV, 2015).

While the exclusion of sugar, dairy, grains and legumes may raise concerns for many, Pete Evans reassures the critics that they’re better off without them, as these foods have been known to cause inflammation in the body. “Paleo at its core is about eliminating any foods that can cause inflammation and celebrating the ones that don’t” (Informit EduTV, 2015).

(Osborne, 2016)