The paleo diet is one of the latest dieting fads out there, but you may not be aware of all that it entails. Paleo is actually short for paleolithic, and this diet has also been known as the caveman diet because it takes a look back at how the earliest humans ate.

Loren Cordain, PhD was the one who developed the paleo diet back in the 1970’s. He determined that we should be eating similarly to the earliest humans because that is how we were genetically designed to eat. Additional research on the diet has revealed that much of what we eat today we have simply adapted to use the way our bodies were supposed to use foods that are part of the paleo diet.

Advantages of the Paleo Diet

Balances out fat. Many people have too much of the unhealthy types of fat and not enough of the healthy types such as omega-3 fatty acids. The paleo diet already has the right balance of unhealthy and healthy fats and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

More healthy protein. Because the paleo diet focuses mainly on lean meats, it means that you’ll be getting a lot more healthy protein. Larger amounts of protein can help increase your metabolism, make you feel full for longer, and will build more muscle mass.

Less carbohydrates. While carbohydrates are good for people that are extremely active like athletes, the average person simply does not use enough energy to need to have a diet high in carbohydrates. This leads to extra calories and weight gain. The paleo diet limits carbohydrates and lets you get the slow-burning energy from protein sources instead.

More vitamins and minerals. Because the paleo diet encourages you to eat as many different types of fruits and vegetables as you can as they come into season, you will be able to get all of the necessary vitamins and minerals that these foods contain that you just can’t get in processed foods.

There are too many other advantages to the paleo diet to list including improving skin complexion, lowering risk of heart disease, increased energy, lowering sugar intake, and better digestive health. Numerous studies on the paleo diet have suggested that it can help correct a number of health concerns.

Paleo Diet Food Options

The main focus of the paleo diet is lean meats, which include: chicken, turkey, pork, buffalo, fish, and seafood.

You are also encouraged to eat a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season. The vegetables that you choose should be non-starchy such as asparagus, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and spinach.

Tree nuts are another great addition to the paleo diet because of their high protein content. This includes almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans. Peanuts, however, are actually legumes and are not included in the paleo diet.

Eggs are the only animal by-product that are included in the paleo diet. All other dairy products including milk, cheese, and yogurt are excluded.

When cooking, there are a several types of oils that you can use which are part of the paleo diet such as olive, coconut, grapeseed, and walnut.