The Paleo Diet: What To Eat And How To Start It | HuffPost Life

Everything You Need To Know About The Paleo Diet

Rachel Moss— The Huffington Post UK

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The Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, is an eating plan that takes things back to basics. And we mean way back.

It's a nutritional plan based on the presumed diet of Paleolithic times, which ended some 10,000 years ago. Yeah.

But unless you're a historian (or a really smart nutritionist), knowing how to go Paleo can be very confusing.

In his book 'Your Personal Paleo Diet', Chris Kresser offers some digestible help.

Why do people follow the Paleo diet?

"Both the fossil record and studies of contemporary hunter-gatherer cultures suggest our paleolithic forebears enjoyed excellent health: they were lean, fit and apparently free from chronic disease. The benefits of mimicking their lifestyle are undeniable.

"Those who walk the Paleo road report near effortless weight loss, new-found vitality, and often miraculous resolution of the most dire health issues; however, even the most dedicated 'Paleo purists' hit a wall. Weight loss stalls. Symptoms persist. Energy flags. People tire of restrictive eating" he writes.

Chris says that if you're starting out on the road to Paleo puritanism you must first complete a 30-day reset diet where you completely dedicate yourself to the caveman way.

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"The reset diet is designed to reduce inflammation, improve digestion, burn fat, identify food sensitivities, reduce allergic reactions, boost energy, regulate blood sugar and stabilise your mood.

"Later on in the programme, you'll have more leeway to go off the rails every now and then. After all, there's more to life than food! But the reset phase is not one of those times. This is where you gather your strength and buckle down." Chris writes.

Here's what you can and can't eat during the reset period:

What You Can And Can't Eat On The Paleo Diet

Part One: What To Eat Liberally(01 of31)

(credit:albert mollon via Getty Images)

Meat and poultry (02 of31)

Emphasise beef and lamb or mutton, but also pork, chicken, turkey, duck, goat and wild game such as venison, ostrich, and so on. Organic and free range is always preferable. (credit:Michael Phillips via Getty Images)

Organ meats(03 of31)

Liver is the most nutrient dense food on the planet, rich in vitamin A, iron and all the essential amino acids. (credit:beyhan yazar via Getty Images)

Broth bone soups(04 of31)

It's essential to balance your intake of muscle meats and organ meats with home-made bone broths. (credit:BWFolsom via Getty Images)

Fish (05 of31)

Especially oil fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies and herring. Wild is preferable. (credit:GMVozd via Getty Images)

Eggs(06 of31)

Preferably free-range and organic. (credit:Image Source via Getty Images)

Starchy plants (07 of31)

Yams, sweet potatoes, topioca, yuca, tarco, lotus root, plantains, breadfruit, celeriac and parsnip. (credit:MandiJubenville via Getty Images)

Non starchy vegetables (08 of31)

Either cooked or raw. (credit:Chris Stein via Getty Images)

Fermented vegetables and fruit (09 of31)

Sauerkraut, kimchi, beetroot kvass, coconut kefir and so on. (credit:David Murray via Getty Images)

Traditional fats (10 of31)

Coconut oil, red palm oil, palm kernel oil, macadamia oil, lard (rendered from free-range pigs if possible), duck fat, beef tallow (from free-range cattle if possible) and olive oil (preferably extra virgin). (credit:HeikeRau via Getty Images)

Olives, avocados, coconuts (11 of31)

(credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)

Sea salt and spices(12 of31)

(credit:Arisara_Tongdonnoi via Getty Images)

Part Two: What To Eat In Moderation(13 of31)

(credit:Diane Diederich via Getty Images)

Processed meat(14 of31)

Two to four servings a week is fine. (credit:MIXA via Getty Images)

Whole fruit (15 of31)

Up to four servings per day, depending on your blood sugar balance and the type of fruit. Choose a variety of colours. (credit:Gregor Schuster via Getty Images)

Nuts and seeds(16 of31)

Allowed nuts include almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecan nuts, pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts. (credit:Jon Boyes via Getty Images)

Green beans, sugar snap peas and mangetout (17 of31)

Although technically legumes, these are usually well tolerated. (credit:John E. Kelly via Getty Images)

Coffee and black tea(18 of31)

All teas and coffee are permitted. (credit:MakiEni's photo via Getty Images)

Vinegar (19 of31)

Cider vinegar is especially well tolerated. (credit:Brian Macdonald via Getty Images)

Restaurant food(20 of31)

(credit:michellealbert via Getty Images)

Stage Three: What To Avoid Completely(21 of31)

(credit:Richard Clark via Getty Images)

Dairy(22 of31)

Including ghee, butter, cheese, yoghurt, milk, cream and dairy product that comes from a cow, goat or other mammal. (credit:Riou via Getty Images)

Grains(23 of31)

Including wheat, rice, cereal, oats, or any pseudo grains and non-gluten grains. In other words no bread, pasta cereal or pizza. (credit:harpazo_hope via Getty Images)

Pulses(24 of31)

Including beans of all kind. (credit:Martin Poole via Getty Images)

Sweeteners (25 of31)

Whether real or artificial. (credit:Zeljko Santrac via Getty Images)

Chocolate Milk(26 of31)

Chocolate milk contains both dairy and sugar and should be avoided for that reason. (credit:Judy Unger via Getty Images)

Processed food (27 of31)

As a general rule, if it comes in a bag or box don't eat it. (credit:Lester Lefkowitz via Getty Images)

Industrial seeds and vegetable oil (28 of31)

Soya, corn, sunflower, rapeseed, peanut, cottonseed and so on (credit:Maximilian Stock Ltd. via Getty Images)

Fizzy drinks(29 of31)

Including diet drinks, as well as fruit juice , in all forms, including 'natural' brands. (credit:rez-art via Getty Images)

Alcohol (30 of31)

In any form during the reset period. (credit:Franklin Kappa via Getty Images)

Processed sauces and seasonings (31 of31)

Soy sauce, tamari and other processed seasonings and sauces (which often include sugar, soya, gluten or all of the above.) (credit:Steve Brown Photography via Getty Images)

Your Personal Paleo Diet: Feel and look great by eating the foods that are ideal for your body, Chris Kessler, published by Piatkus, £13.99

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