It almost hurts to capitalize the word, as if it is a real thing, a proper noun. It may be a diet, but not all of it is truly old, or paleo. The nutritional benefits of the diet are not the problem; it promotes whole foods, natural meat, vegetables, fruits, and advises avoiding carbs, grains, sugar and processed foods.

a combining form meaning “old” or “ancient,” especially in reference to former geologic time periods, used in the formation of compound words: paleobotany.

The typical paleo diet, however, puts most at risk for deficiencies in calcium and vitamin D, which are critical to bone health. At the same time, saturated fat and protein can be consumed far above recommended levels, increasing the risk of kidney and heart disease and certain cancers.

Paleo is an ancestral approach that prioritizes eating real, whole, nutrient-dense foods. At its core, Paleo is about trying to eat real, naturally occurring ingredients that are healthful rather than harmful.

Foods to Eat on the Paleo Diet Choose wild-caught if you can. Eggs: Choose free-range, pastured or omega-3 enriched eggs. Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, peppers, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc. Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, avocados, strawberries, blueberries and more.

Coffee isn’t permitted on a Paleo diet, but one of the biggest advantages of this diet is that you balance out your blood sugar by providing protein and fat-rich meals, so you may find that you don’t need coffee. Coffee is often a byproduct of people not having stable blood sugar, therefore having low energy.

Unprocessed potatoes are paleo Generally, unprocessed potatoes of all types can be part of a paleo diet. Similarly to grains, which are off-limits on paleo, potatoes are starchy and rich in carbohydrates. However, when eaten with the skin, their nutrient composition is comparable to that of sweet potatoes.

Because oats are a grain, oatmeal (and anything made from oats like overnight oats or oat flour) is not paleo. Even if they are just plain rolled oats with nothing else added. Grains are not allowed on a paleo diet.

Typical varieties of baked breads have grains that have not gone through any type of breakdown process. These hidden nutrients are only released through the sprouted grain process, which is why Ezekiel bread is considered a good option to eat by many people following the Paleo diet.

Which Alcohol Is Best? Sticking with the paleo theory that unprocessed foods and drinks are best, paleo advocates including Giblin tend to approve of wine, hard ciders, and tequila — drinks that are not as reliant on grains and therefore have fewer carbohydrates and, hopefully, less sugar.

Greek yogurt is simply not acceptable to consume while practicing Paleo if you follow the diet by the book. Fortunately for Greek yogurt lovers, there are modified versions of Paleo that allow for “high quality” dairy products with the diet.

Turn to these paleo breakfast recipes when you want nutrition-packed paleo meals to start your day.

• Chocolate Coconut Granola.
• Broccoli, Mushroom & Egg Muffins.
• Strawberry Doughnuts.
• Almond Zucchini Bread.
• Sweet Potato Hash.
• Almond & Blueberry Muffins.
• Immune Booster Orange Smoothie.
• Classic Banana Pancakes.

Proteins. “Protein is another hallmark of the paleo diet, but this isn’t a free pass to just eat [processed] bacon all day,” says Hultin, who recommends eating the popular breakfast meat in moderation and opting for the nitrate-free variety when possible.

Dairy. A strict paleo diet does not allow dairy products because hunter-gatherers did not milk cows. This includes milk, butter, yogurt, sour cream, and cheese. If you prefer to avoid dairy on the paleo diet, you can substitute non-dairy products made with coconut milk, almond milk, and cashew milk.

A Paleo diet contains plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, contributing about 35-45% of all caloric intake. Vegetables chosen are usually especially low in starch, such as carrots and leafy vegetables, which Paleolithic populations are supposed to have found abundantly in their environment.

The short answer is that, yes, mayonnaise can be Paleo – but there is more to it than just running out to your local grocery store and picking up a container of your favorite go-to brand. The mayonnaise you find on the shelf will generally include ingredients that are not compliant, such as soybean oil.

15 Dairy-Free Paleo Cheese Substitutes You can Make at Home. Dairy is a Paleo gray area, and some people do just fine eating it. That doesn’t mean you have to give up cheese forever, though! In general, you’ll probably want to skip the vegan “cheeses” in stores; most of them are made with soy or other junk.

Vanilla Extract is a popular ingredient in foods like Milk Shakes, Ice Cream and other tasty treats, but is this flavor OK to eat on Paleo? No! Vanilla Extract is an artificial flavoring and NOT Paleo friendly 👎!

Typically, almond milk does not meet Paleo guidelines because it often contains added sugar and stabilizers and emulsifiers like locust bean gum, sunflower lecithin and gellan gum.

Grains are generally prohibited on the paleo diet Grains are one of the major food groups prohibited on the paleo diet. These include wheat, corn, bread, pasta, cereal, oats, rye, barley, and rice.

Soy sauce shouldn’t be used on Paleo because it’s derived from soy, and soy isn’t one of the Paleo approved foods. Plus it’s loaded with the kind of sodium you want to avoid while on the Paleo diet. It’s better to use coconut aminos instead.

Pickles are OK to eat on the Paleo diet because they are fermented Cucumbers. The fermentation process is all natural so the conversion from Cucumber to Pickles is no problem for Paleo lovers.

Vitamin C – 33% – Everyone’s favorite antioxidant. Watermelon may taste best during the summer, but you can find it all year long, and it’s worth seeking out. It’s one of the few sweet fruits that’s allowed on Paleo, so you don’t want to go overboard with your portions, something that’s easy to do with watermelon.

Pineapple – This is one delicious fruit you can eat while on Paleo, but be careful with it because it’s easy to over consume it and end up with too much sugar. You’ll want to avoid the juice and go right for the fruit on this one.

Although chocolate is not Paleo in the sense that our cavemen ancestors weren’t eating it by the bar, dark chocolate is allowed in moderation on the Paleo diet, in part due to the numerous health benefits that have been correlated with the cacao component of chocolate.

If you can’t find fresh pumpkin or you are unable or unwilling to make your own puree, then canned pumpkin is a good Paleo alternative. Keep quality in mind when choosing a brand and make sure your canned pumpkin is free of added sugar and other unwanted ingredients.

Well, yes, canned tuna is Paleo, but that doesn’t mean you should stock up on just any brand. Tuna can be an excellent source of cheap and easy protein, but not all brands are the same. As with anything canned, there’s also the risk of BPA contamination, so it’s very important to pay attention to what you’re buying.