Caveman Diet, Food List, Pros and Cons

The caveman diet, also referred to as paleo or stone age diet, is a meal plan consisting of high-protein and high fiber foods. The concept behind this is to help people lead more healthy lifestyles and prevent the onset of some chronic diseases such as diabetes. 

Basically, the caveman diet mimics what the Paleolithic ancestors used to eat. The researchers believe that since our ancestors had no access to processed foods, their diets were healthier. Furthermore, they led active lifestyles spending most of their time hunting and gathering. Presumably, they had lesser chances of suffering from lifestyle diseases.

Benefits of Caveman diet

Caveman's diet has a lot of pros, as discussed below. It’s actually the healthiest diet that someone on dieting can use today. 

• Increase lean muscle
• Improved sleep
• Helps people suffering depression and anxieties
• Clearer skin
• Increased and stable energy levels
• Decreased gas and no bloating
• Mental clarity

Disadvantages of the Caveman diet

• Caveman diet can be expensive
• No grains or dairy
• It can be difficult for vegetarians

The caveman diet food list

This diet involves eating like Paleolithic humans. Therefore, there are foods included on the list and those that are not. Here is a list that will assist you in planning paleo meals;

Grass-fed Beef

This is a very healthy diet food for you. Green-fed beef is good for the environment and in line with what our ancestors eat. Green-fed beef is also leaner and has higher key nutrients such as Vitamins, CLA, and antioxidants. 

Eggs

Eggs are in this category because they contain a lot of proteins, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals though you should buy pasture raised organic and cage-free eggs. 

Meat and seafood

Meat and seafood are other healthy diets for people on a paleo meal. Though not all meats and seafood fall in this category, when buying your meat and seafood, watch out for pre-marinated and cured meat. This contains more sugar and may not fall under this category.  

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables have a couple of health benefits. They’re rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals. It’s however, important to note that not all fruits and vegetables fall under the paleo diet. Some of them are starchy. Consequently, if you are on a paleo diet, don’t take bananas and canned potatoes. Try some spinach, Broccoli, Cabbage, Sweet potatoes, apples, Plums, Melon, Berries, and peaches. 

Nuts and seeds

These are among the many foods that our ancestors ate. Some nuts such as almonds, pistachios, cashews, and pecans are rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Nuts are technically legumes, you can try Chia foods, Flax seeds, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, Macadamia nuts, Pumpkin seeds, and walnuts. 

What to know when in Caveman Diet

Limitations

The paleo diet allows for some cheating, especially when someone is experiencing hunger. When someone is starting, it isn't easy to eat a paleo diet for three meals a day. For that reason, you can consider some open meals. 

It can restrict vegetarians and vegan.

It's challenging to follow a paleo diet without eating meat and fish because of proteins. This is what proves difficult to vegans and vegetarians. But vegetarians can try it by getting proteins from Legumes and nuts. 

Low salt diet

The paleo diet doesn’t allow salt. This can necessarily help you cut on sodium. 

It's believed that the Stone Age humans ate what they could find at that time and followed no specific diet. There is no particular way to have a paleo diet. What you have to do is go with your preferences and needs. Keep in mind, this type of diet consists strictly of natural and unprocessed foods and that is mainly the key to pretty much most dieting plans.

Do you agree with the principles of the caveman diet?

Do you think our ancestors lived healthier lives?

What is your preferred diet plan?

Feel free to comment down below