The Paleo Diet is huge in the States, and celebrities including Megan Fox and Miley Cyrus are reportedly big fans. But what is this "caveman" diet all about? Here's everything you need to know.
We’ve spoken to Katy Mason, nutritionist at The Nutri Centre, to get the lowdown…
‘The diet focuses on what would have (supposedly) been eaten roughly 8,000 years ago by our Stone Age ancestors, the Palaeolithic people. One of the most startling things about the Paleo Diet is its elimination of all grains. It claims that the human body doesn’t tolerate the phytates, gluten and lectins found in grains.The diet tries to eliminate all the things that appear in our modern diet that the body may not be able to cope with easily. This includes foods that are farmed, cultivated or processed, including grains, dairy products and preservatives.’
– Fish
– Eggs
– Seafood
– Nuts and seeds
– Fruit
– Coconut oil
– Olive, macadamia and avocado oil
– Soy products
– Potatoes
– Starches
– Overcooked meats
– Dairy
– Artificial sweeteners
– Honey
– Dried fruit (these should be excluded completely if you’re overweight or have a metabolic syndrome)
– Tomatoes, chilli peppers and aubergines (if you have an autoimmune condition or allergy)
– High GI fruit (if you are overweight or have diabetes)
And what are the disadvantages?
‘If you don’t eat enough vegetables and fruit while on this diet, you may be at risk of certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is because grains and legumes – which are high in certain nutrients – are eliminated. The fibre and nutrients in fruit and vegetables should replace those lost – but only if you eat them! Excluding grains and legumes from your diet will make it harder for you to eat out, especially at lunch time. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing, as it will encourage you to eat fresh foods, which are usually far more nutritious.’