Exploring the Meaning and History of our Ancestor's Diet

       To expand my knowledge, and my reader's knowledge, I searched Wikipedia for some elaborations on my subject. The paleo diet was the diet humans followed during the stone age. Hence where it gets the name, from the paleolithic era. It's hard to imagine that modern people can consider this lifestyle a fad if everyone used to eat this way until ten thousand years ago. Did our entire system really evolve over ten thousand years, or do our bodies work better with our original fuel? It defines the diet to include fish, grass fed pasture raised meats, eggs, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts. It prohibits the consumption of grains, legumes, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, dairy products, and processed oils.

       I have noticed that the paleo diet emits half of the common allergens that plague modern societies today. Milk, peanuts, wheat, and soy are all excluded. It is arguable that chicken who are fed certain grains may lay eggs that cause an allergic reaction to gluten intolerant people. However, if chickens were allowed to roam around and eat bugs like they did before agriculture, the common egg allergy might be less severe or non existent. Eggs, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are the other half of the equation. It is relatively easy to avoid these allergens while following a paleo diet.
     
       This is the first time I discovered that potatoes are not allowed when following the paleo diet. It makes sense, because potatoes are part of the nightshade family that cause inflammatory reactions in some people. The inflammatory diseases they cause range from heart burn to arthritis. This excludes yams and sweet potatoes because they belong in different families. Not everyone is sensitive to nightshades, only those who suffer from inflammation problems.

       There is a strong debate about the paleolithic diet in most industries. There are many people on opposite ends of the spectrum, some write it off as a fad diet, and others incorporate it into their lives almost religiously. Scientists argue that there is no scientific proof supporting it, while others argue there is personal proof to back it up. I take the side of the supporters, because you can't bash something you haven't tried when it's proved itself to be beneficial.

       It's amazing how many variations of the paleolithic diet exist. The hardest thing for followers of this diet to agree on is the ratios of the food groups. Some believe that a meat based diet is ideal, similar to an Atkins diet. Others believe that a high-carb vegetable diet is ideal. Variations of the diet are endless, but some include a raw, vegetarian, vegan, high fat, low fat, high protein, low protein, four day rotation, fasting, part-time plaeo, and a local version. With all of these options and more, I can't imagine how this "diet" is lumped in with all the other heavily restricted diets commonly followed today. Some people go all out limiting eggs, honey, and sweet potatoes because they weren't gathered in abundance back in the day. Others rely on these as staples because they closely resemble the comfort food they miss. They may disregard moderation and an accurate duplication of the diet. There is tons misinformation out there. People are sold the idea that they are on a paleo diet when they include milk from grass fed cows, and should eat quinoa since it might be a seed. Others find it more convenient to live a partially paleo lifestyle, while sticking to their regular diet some or most of the time.

       I think it's hard to pinpoint the exact facts of what our ancestors ate, and we should listen to our bodies more than an external influence like the media, parents, friends, or certified health instructors. One person might have an allergy to blueberries. Although blueberries are paleo by every definition, consuming them would be more harmful to this individual than consuming a triple cheese factory produced casserole. I think everyone should give the hunter-gatherer diet a try at least once, and adjust it however they want.