How do I determine what a paleo diet is?

Question

Prior to the invention of agriculture, humans lived in numerous climates, ecosystems and environments. So, exactly what is a "paleo" diet?

For example, at some point in time before the origin of agriculture, there were "paleo" humans who ate grains. The original grain eaters were no doubt hunter-gatherers who happened to live in a region where grains were a "gathered" food source. Another example is an acquaintance who follows a paleo diet, but eats a large amount of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. This strikes me as odd, because from what I understand, hunter-gatherers didn't limit themselves to breast meat.

Is there a link perhaps with good clarification on exactly what a paleo diet is?

Answer 1

One of the more accessible (and less dogmatic) approaches can be read here: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/

There are many varieties of the Evolutionary Eating idea, so a strict definition of "this is PALEO" will be hard to come by.

http://www.paleonu.com/panu-weblog/2011/3/30/paleo-20-a-diet-manifesto.html is a good view as to what the Paleo movement may be evolving into....

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I'm pasting an answer here that I wrote for Paleohacks.com in regards to which BOOK was a good first introduction to Paleo.

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It really depends on the learning style and history of the targeted reader.

They are just looking a solid approach in an entertaining (tough-loveish) format? Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution: The Original Human Diet

They have a science-minded bent, but just want the overview? Gary Taubes' Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It

They have a science-minded bent, but want all the details? Gary Taubes' Good Calories, Bad Calories: Fats, Carbs, and the Controversial Science of Diet and Health

They need the friendly, easy access version. Mark Sisson's The Primal Blueprint: Reprogram your genes for effortless weight loss, vibrant health, and boundless energy

Personally, I started with Sisson's work and website, and then dove into GCBC and loved it... but I'm a huge science geek.

I would give Sisson to my ( not steeped in science ) relatives, and I would would set the rest up with Taubes' Why We Get Fat.

Make sure to tell them that this is the first stepping stone, and the start of a great journey.

Answer 2

There are a lot of resources that I use for it, but it's very hard to find a concise source, as a lot of people have varying degrees of what they'll allow that range from no concessions (strict paleo) to including dairy and peanut butter and the like (usually when it's paleo with dairy, the word primal is thrown around.

Some resources:

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/ - Marks Daily Apple (A paleo blog (refers to it as "primal" though)

http://robbwolf.com/ - Robb Wolf's blog

Here is a list of foods, but the more you search lists, the more you find that they'll contradict each other based on how paleo the list maker is.

Summary: Eat lean meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, no sugar. Generally avoid foods that come in boxes (preservatives and other added ingredients).

Answer 3

Paleo is a poor term choice, because the point is to eat healthy, not to replicate a lifestyle. The goal is to eat what we have evolved to eat during millions of years.

Grains were only widely available in our diet when we started agriculture, a few thousand years ago. Before that, they couldn't be a material part of the diet. In fact, many modern grains probably didn't exist in a calory dense format until recently.

People who follow a paleo diet are warry of nuts and chicken fat (therefore skin) because of the high omega-6 content. Our modern diet is much richer in omega-6 than what we used to eat for millions of years before agriculture started.

Answer 4

I think it's most important what you DON'T eat.

Rather than trying to re-enact caveman or hunter-gatherer dietary practice from whatever region and time period you can imagine to be most important, stick to this rule of thumb: avoid foods that are not available without processing and machinery, OR are plausibly linked to modern "diseases of civilization."

Personally I keep fructose, seeds and seed oils to a small fraction of my diet. Other than that, I eat whatever tastes good to me.

Here's a good resource: http://www.paleonu.com/get-started/