The Paleo diet has a great number of followers. It is named after the Paleolithic era. This is a time period of about 15,000 years ago when our early human ancestors lived. They lived a very simple life, subsisting on meat, fish, fruits, nuts, and seeds. There were no pesticides or other pollutants in the food.
This diet of whole unprocessed foods meant that obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related conditions were unlikely to exist. The people living during the Paleolithic era were strong, fit, and healthy. Those who follow the Paleo diet try to emulate the eating habits of these early human ancestors.
Our bodies were not designed to eat the diet we do today. The processed foods and high levels of fat and sodium are the complete opposite of what early humans ate. We face diseases and conditions caused by diet on an unprecedented scale.
The Paleo diet isn’t a diet, per se. It’s a lifestyle change and a commitment to a simpler, more healthy food regimen. You don’t follow the Paleo diet for 30 days and expect to lose weight. It’s a choice to follow it on a long-term basis. And it allows you to make some better decisions on how you refuel your body.
Those people who follow the Paleo diet report weight loss, but the overriding positive effect is on their general health. There are times when you’ll fall off the wagon, but it’s easy to get back on. It’s all about making consciously healthy eating choices.