What is Paleo Diet?

The paleo diet is based on the deliberate consumption of unprocessed or processed foods: only raw elements in their purest form are ingested, as they would have been found by prehistoric men at the birth of humanity.

The diet of our prehistoric forefathers has become one of the most popular culinary trends of the present, thanks to a desire to return to nature and origins, perhaps carried a bit too far.

The premise behind this form of nourishment is that if it didn't exist back then, it won't exist now: no snacks, no snacks, and even basic pasta won't suffice.

Between fashion and "fit" society, the Paleolithic diet

However, a distinction must be made between what the paleo diet should be based on historical evidence of primitive nutrition and what has been perverted and transformed by a certain "fit" culture.

The diet would be: lots of pure meat and fish, nearly no or extremely limited carbs of any type, according to fashion and a shallow understanding of this diet. This is because, while a high-protein, sugar-free diet can help you lose weight quickly, it can also bring health problems and nutritional shortages.

The Paleo Diet: How Does the "Prehistoric" Diet Work?

Scholars, dietitians, and biologists, on the other hand, believe that eating like prehistoric man means something different: in fact, the ancient people of the world ate a diet that was 70% vegetable-based, i.e., a plant-based diet.

This is due to the fact that it was based on the collecting of natural fruits of the soil, namely fruit for those who lived in tropical and subtropical locations, and roots, tubers, and berries for those who lived in moderate and colder climates. Vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals because they contain fiber and carbs.

Animal protein was limited to wildlife caught with rudimentary equipment, as well as fish caught with simple tools and "stolen" eggs from unattended nests.

A study conducted by the University of Bologna investigated the results of the prehistoric Hazda community, who lived in Tanzania during the Paleolithic period, in order to reconstruct their "at-the-table" behaviors.

What foods to consume and how to eat them on the Paleo diet

So, what foods should you eat today to maintain a Paleolithic diet?

Consuming entirely natural foods that have not been handled or processed in any way is unquestionably healthful. Fresh fruit, vegetables, and tubers in large quantities, as well as nuts and berries, have been given the green light.

OK with meat, fish, and eggs among animal proteins, but with the foresight to choose goods that are not derived from intense farming, both for ethical reasons and consistency, given that farming did not exist in the Paleolithic.

Paleo diet foods and condiments are not permitted

Cereals and all of their derivatives, from flour to pasta, are forbidden in the paleo diet because they are agricultural products.

Refined meals, sweets, and everything chemical - from sweeteners to flavorings - were all banned.

Even foods that are deemed normal and beneficial are avoided by purists: olive oil, for example, should not be taken because it is the result of a subsequent procedure based on agriculture and the ability to transform basic ingredients.

As a result, the foods aren't seasoned at all, as salt isn't widely used until much later.

The advantages of a paleo diet

The advantages come from avoiding too much sugar as well as refined and commercial foods. The lack of preservatives, dyes, and chemical additions, as well as the quantity of fresh, lightly seasoned, and unprocessed foods, are all beneficial to the body, which will experience a rush of energy and "cleanse" in the early days.

The paleo diet has some drawbacks

However, there are numerous grey areas in this diet: the first is tied to the issue we discussed at the start of the essay, namely, a muddled interpretation of the paleo diet as a high-protein, animal-based diet. This is not the case, and eating too much meat at the expense of carbohydrates and fiber can lead to malnutrition and harmful effects on the overall metabolism, particularly if you don't obtain enough vitamins and minerals.

The second is that, in the long run, it may be an unsustainable diet within a "normal" life: consider any social situation in which finding the suitable paleo substitute on a pizzeria or cafeteria menu may be extremely difficult.