Say what you will about mammoths and sleeping in caves and having no wifi, but there’s a few things our distant relatives seem to have gotten right, including their diet.  The paleo diet, or the palaeolithic diet, is a modern diet which aims to return people to their roots. It’s just like glamping — you know, those tents that are three times the size, with a king sized bed and a copper bath overlooking a forest — caveman, but more glamorous, mostly because you don’t have to go and do the hunting yourself. Sunshine Coast Organic Meats can do the hunting (and even the gathering) for you!

                       

A caveman diet includes lean, grass-fed meats, fresh caught, wild seafood and whole food fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. The new and improved paleo diet can include healthy fats like coconut, walnut and avocado. With modern marvels such as the oven and pre-bought spices, you can elevate the natural flavour and nutrition of anything that makes its way onto your plate, while still reaping all the benefits. 

Discordance hypothesis is used as the foundational logic for the diet: that our physiology isn’t suited for modern agriculture and produce. According to paleo enthusiasts, when you increase your intake of whole foods and decrease added sugars, processed foods and preservatives, you can improve possible health concerns like inflammation, heart disease and cancer. The paleo diet is inherently gluten free which is great for celiacs and is also referenced for those looking for a natural, healthy way to lose weight due to its lean, fat-reduced composition.

What is the ruling by doctors and dieticians about the paleo diet? Just like every restricted diet, there’s the risk of missing important nutrients, especially by excluding the important food groups such as grains and legumes. Bone strength is one concern among dieticians, due to the low intake of calcium and vitamin D. A balanced diet includes serves of carbohydrates and calcium which are important for bone health, muscle regeneration and energy.  

Ultimately, just like any restrictive diet, nothing is one-size-fits-all. Whether you religiously follow the paleo diet, pick and choose the best bits (like the grass-fed meat and produce), or just want to give it a try, you can find plenty of delicious, easy paleo recipes including our paleo nachos.