The Paleo diet

Image: Healthy Consultant.

The ‘Paleo’, Paleolithic, Old Stone Age, Hunter-Gatherer or Caveman diet prioritises whole foods (available during the Paleolithic era) and avoids processed foods (not available during the Paleolithic era).

There are several variations to this diet however generally, the Paleo lifestyle is as follows.

To be eaten:

• Lean red meats, e.g. beef, lamb, pork

• White meats, e.g. chicken, turkey

• Fish, e.g. salmon, trout, shellfish

• Eggs

• Vegetables, e.g. broccoli, capsicum, spinach, carrots, tomatoes

• Fruits, e.g. bananas, apples, nectarines, oranges

• Nuts, e.g. almonds, macadamias, peanuts

• Seeds, e.g. sunflower, pumpkin, chia

• Herbs and spices, e.g. rosemary, oregano, paprika

• Nutritious fats and oils, e.g. nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado, salmon

To be avoided:

• Processed foods, e.g. cakes, biscuits, crackers, potato chips

• Sugars/added sugars

• High-fructose corn syrup, e.g. soft drinks, fruit juice, table sugar, lollies, pastries, ice-cream

• Grains, e.g. breads, pastas, wheat, spelt, rye, barley

• Dairy products

• Legumes, e.g. beans, lentils

• Artificial sweeteners, e.g. aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame potassium

• Some vegetable oils, e.g. soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, corn, grapeseed, safflower

• Trans fats, e.g. vegetable shortening, microwave popcorn, some margarines, battered fish

There are no rights or wrongs when it comes to eating.

Simply, choose a variation of Paleo that will best help you achieve your goals.