The basic concept of the paleo diet is to eat whole foods and avoid processed foods.Studies suggest that this diet can lead to significant weight loss and major improvements in health.

The Paleo Diet

You can use the paleo diet as a starting point, adding in a few other healthy foods like grass-fed butter and gluten-free grains. Even small amounts of red wine and dark chocolate can be added. Water should be your drink of choice when following the paleo diet. Many people also drink tea and coffee, which is high in antioxidants.

Modified Paleo Diets

There is no one "right" way to eat for everyone.Some eat a low-carb diet high in animal foods, while others follow a high-carb diet with lots of plants.

A general guideline

<div><div><h2><div><a></a></div></h2><ul><li>Sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.</li><li>All Grains.</li><li>Legumes like beans and lentils.</li><li>Most Dairy, especially low-fat dairy.</li><li>Some vegetable oils like soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, corn, grapeseed, safflower and other oils.</li><li>Trans fats: "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated" oils found in margarine and various processed foods.</li><li>Artificial sweeteners: Aspartame, sucralose, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame potassium. </li><li>Highly processed foods: Everything labeled "diet" or "low-fat" or that has many additives.</li></ul></div></div>

Avoid these foods and ingredients:

<ul><li>Meat: Beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, pork and others.</li><li>Fish and seafood: Salmon, trout, haddock, shrimp, shellfish, etc. Choose wild-caught if you can.</li><li>Eggs: Choose free-range, pastured or <a href="/nutrition/pastured-vs-omega-3-vs-conventional-eggs">omega-3 enriched</a> eggs.</li><li>Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, peppers, onions, carrots, tomatoes, etc.</li><li>Fruits: Apples, bananas, oranges, pears, avocados, strawberries, blueberries and more.</li><li>Tubers: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, turnips, etc.</li><li>Nuts and seeds: Almonds, macadamia nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and more.</li><li>Healthy fats and oils: Extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil and others.</li><li>Salt and spices: Sea salt, garlic, turmeric, rosemary, etc.</li></ul>

Foods to Eat on the Paleo Diet

The paleo diet is designed to resemble what human hunter-gatherer ancestors ate thousands of years ago. Although it's impossible to know exactly what human ancestors ate in different parts of the world, researchers believe their diets consisted of whole foods.

Avoid these foods and ingredients:

Similar ideas to Avoid these foods and ingredients:

Foods to Eat and Avoid