What is the paleo (or caveman) diet?

The Paleo (or caveman) diet is based on foods that our hunter/gatherer ancestors ate: lean meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats and seeds. Watch naturopathic and nutrition expert Kellyann Petrucci, ND, explain the Paleo diet concept.

Transcript

00:00

Paleo is nutrition based on the idea that we should eat like our hunter-gatherer ancestors. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:13

Because the foods that were available to them at that time really have a lot to do with our physiology today,

00:20

because genes have only changed about 0.002% in about 40,000 years. So believe it or not, the foods that they ate,

00:28

those are the foods that were best with our bodies. So taking some tips, taking some hints from the hunter-gatherers

00:36

and how they lived make a big difference. We do have a nutritional blueprint.

00:43

Those foods that the hunter-gatherers ate really are a good genetic match for us. They work well with our body.

00:52

So what's a go or what's a yes on the paleo diet? Lean meats, fish, eggs, vegetables.

01:00

And starchy vegetables are fine too. Some non-starchy vegetables, starchy vegetables, fruits--

01:07

fruits are definitely a go, some healthy fats, nuts, and seeds.

01:13

There's also some paleo pantry items, but that's the basic paleo template. [MUSIC PLAYING]