The Paleo diet is a modern diet based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various hominid species ate during the Paleolithic era, a period of about 2.5 million years that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture.
The diet excludes foods that were not available to humans during the Paleolithic era, such as dairy products, grains, legumes, refined sugar, and processed oils. It emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods such as meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
The Paleo diet has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced inflammation. It may also be beneficial for people with certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders.
If you are considering following the Paleo diet, it is important to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian first. They can help you to make sure that the diet is right for you and that you are getting the nutrients you need.
Here are some of the foods that are typically included in the Paleo diet:
- Meat: Beef, chicken, fish, lamb, pork, and wild game
- Fish: Salmon, tuna, trout, and other oily fish
- Eggs
- Vegetables: All vegetables, including leafy greens, starchy vegetables, and vegetables from the nightshade family
- Fruits: All fruits, including berries, citrus fruits, and tropical fruits
- Nuts and seeds: Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, chia seeds, flaxseeds, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts
- Healthy fats: Avocados, coconut oil, olive oil, and ghee
Here are some of the foods that are typically excluded from the Paleo diet:
- Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter
- Grains: Wheat, barley, rye, oats, and corn
- Legumes: Beans, lentils, peas, and peanuts
- Refined sugar: White sugar, brown sugar, and high-fructose corn syrup
- Processed oils: Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil
The Paleo diet is a flexible diet, and you can adjust it to fit your own preferences and needs. If you are not sure whether the Paleo diet is right for you, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.