Nutrition

The Paleolithic diet is based on the diet of our ancestors. This diet assumes that anything our distant ancestors could gather or hunt with a spear—and anything that can be eaten raw—is healthy for humans. Grains such as rice and wheat are not edible raw. Cows were not originally milked (cattle were killed only for their meat). Beans and legumes contain too many lectins when raw (these are toxic proteins that break down at high temperatures). Nuts and seeds were abundant. Sugar was not yet known (only natural sugars in fruits, berries, and so on). The diet ensures a good balance between acids and bases, so that nutrients are optimally absorbed and minerals are minimally depleted from the body.

Not only can this diet lower high cholesterol in just ten days—and thus help prevent cardiovascular disease—but it also helps prevent all modern lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

General guidelines:

1. No sugar (no refined sugars)
2. No grain products and no rice
3. No dairy products
4. No beans or legumes, but nuts and seeds
5. Plenty of fruits and vegetables
6. Fish and meat in moderation
7. Very low in salt

In this diet, the ratio of protein, healthy fats (plenty), and carbohydrates (few) is approximately 40:40:20. It promotes a better balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids and improves acid-base balance (it is a predominantly alkaline diet).