Originating a mere 2.5 million years ago from our stone age ancestors, the Paleo diet, also known as the caveman diet, embraces foods consumed by individuals prior to the introduction of farming agriculture (Klonoff, 2009). Driven by the idea of “our genes determine our nutritional needs”, the Paleo diet, consisting of lean meats and fresh fruits and vegetables from natural sources, is “the way that we were genetically programmed to eat” (Eaton & Konner, 1985; Cordain, 2010). Through the combination of scientific evidence and common sense, a number of core principles have been developed to guide individuals in living the caveman way (Macri, 2016-a). It has been proven that following these principles improve overall health, reduce risk of disease and promote weight loss. They include: Consume a moderately high quantity of animal protein Reduce the number of carbohydrate intake and replace them with fruits and vegetables Ensure that adequate fibre consumption is met, but

  While it’s claimed to be the world’s healthiest diet, the Paleo diet is also considered to be a lifestyle. The Paleo diet also poses recommendations about the importance of sun exposure, exercise and sleep (Cordain, 2010; Cordain 2017; Paleo Leap, 2017). It is believed that the Paleo diet additionally: Improves fitness Reduces acne Improves sleep Increases immune function Lessens allergies (Cordain, 2017; Macri, 2016-b; Paleo Leap, 2017) Figure 1. The Paleo Diet Health Benefits (Dizon, 2017)    

Figure 2. What to Eat on the Paleo Diet? (Vandyken, 2016)

Designed to lessen diet-related diseases, the Australian Dietary Guidelines are a collection of statements established by the National Health and Medical Research Council to encourage the benefits of healthy eating . These guidelines are:  Figure 3. Australian Dietary Guidelines (NHMRC, 2013)   Figure 4. The New Primal Blueprint Food Pyramid (Sissons, 2011) and The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (Eat for Health, 2017)   The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating is a visual representation of the Australian Dietary Guidelines, divided into the recommended portion sizes for the five food groups. When compared to the Paleo Pyramid, the key differences include: No Grains, which source Vitamin D (Guideline 2) No Dairy, which source Calcium (Guideline 2) Excessive Fat, which are energy dense (Guideline 3) Although the Paleo diet may comply with the Australian Dietary Guidelines in honour of whole foods being consumed while “discretionary” foods being e

(Wilson, 2013; NHMRC, 2014-b) The AMDR are “ recommendations for optimising the balance of intake of each of the macronutrients to lower chronic disease risk while allowing for adequate micronutrient intakes” (ABS, 2015). The AMDR for Carbohydrates is 45-65%, Protein is 15-25% and Fat is 20-35%. However, the Paleo nutrient range for Protein and Fat are both higher than the AMDR and lower than the AMDR for Carbohydrates. Those who abide by the Paleo diet are putting themselves at risk of obesity as a high fat diet is energy dense (NHMRC, 2014-c).

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2015). Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges. Retrieved from http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4364.0.55.008Main+Features2102011-12 Brinegar, C. (2016, June 24). Paleo Kitchen Essentials: How to stock your pantry [Image]. Paleo Kitchen Essentials: How to stock your pantry. Retrieved from https://ultimatepaleoguide.com/paleo-kitchen-essentials-stock-pantry/ Collectable Mini Figs. (n.d.-a). Caveman LEGO Figure. Caveman LEGO Figure. Retrieved from http://www.collectibleminifigs.com/minifig.asp?n=caveman Collectable Mini Figs. (n.d.-b). Cave Woman LEGO Figure. Cave Woman LEGO Figure. Retrieved from http://www.collectibleminifigs.com/minifig.asp?n=cave-woman Cordain, L. (2010). The Paleo Diet . Boston, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Dizon, J. (2017, March 25). The Paleo Diet Health Benefits [Image]. The Paleo Diet Health Benefits Infographic . Retrieved from http://thepaleodiet.com/the-paleo-diet-health-benefits