What is the Paleo Diet?

The Paleo Diet is short for "Paleolithic Diet". While on this diet, one cuts out grains, and eats mostly fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.

The thinking behind it is that modern man eats foods that our ancient ancestors did not, and that our bodies were not meant to handle some (or, apparently, many) of the things we have been putting into them recently.

Before the Agricultural Revolution several thousand years ago, we were hunters and gatherers. We did not eat grains very often at all, and we mostly consumed wild fruits and vegetables, and whatever we could kill. The wild fruits and vegetables do not include grains, rices, and things like that. We did not eat those, or so the theory goes. Because of this, our bodies did not evolve or adapt to handle them. This lead to modern man's problems with grain.

Now, you may be thinking "I eat grains daily. I don't have any problems."

Yes, well, that's what a lot of people seem to think.

The fact is, most grains are quite high in glycemic index, meaning that they make your blood sugar go up rapidly, and send you crashing down soon thereafter.

Our ancient ancestors mostly ate fruits, which, while sometimes high-GI, were not high-GI very often, and contained a surprising amount of much more fiber than modern fruit does. This extra fiber created a buffer between the high-GI carb and your blood sugar, preventing you from crashing, and allowing the carbohydrate to disperse its energy slowly while one hunted or gathered.

It is estimated that 70% of the foods the modern American eats were not even thought of to be consumed by our ancient ancestors. It is interesting to note that the quantity of ancestrally-uneaten food is highest in America--also the country with the highest rate of obesity, diabetes, and other major problems.

Grains can be blamed for quite a few of the autoimmune problems that may ail us; diabetes, arthritis, and similar conditions.

"Grains? Causing arthritis? 'tis a lie!"

Nay, my fellow human. It has been shown time and time again that people who eat a lot of grains are more likely to develop the aforementioned conditions than those who go grainless.

People that try out the Paleo Diet often report increased energy levels, better metabolism, fat loss, increase in strength levels, vitality, and potency.

A question to provoke some thought: Will you ever be able to look at that bowl of Cheerios the same way again?