What is the paleo diet?

The Paleolithic diet, or paleo diet, is a nutritional system based on assumptions about the diet of ancient humans in the Paleolithic era. Supporters of this approach believe that our bodies have not had time to genetically adapt to the changes that occurred after the agricultural revolution.

The basis of the diet consists of foods that were available to hunters and gatherers: lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, fresh vegetables, root vegetables, nuts, berries, and healthy vegetable oils. It is assumed that such food is the most natural for human metabolism.

At the same time, the paleo diet completely excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, sugar, salt, and any industrially processed products. It is believed that these very products provoke inflammatory processes and the modern rise in chronic diseases.

For some people, this style of eating is indeed useful, as it forces them to completely abandon fast food and sweets, replacing them with whole foods. This often leads to improved well-being and weight loss due to a calorie deficit.

Nevertheless, this diet is too restrictive for most people, excluding whole groups of healthy foods. To date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the paleo diet has any unique advantages over other balanced diets.