Haven't you always wondered what Loana and Tumak ate back in the day, once their respective tribes graduated from killing and eating each other? Aren't you curious what made these two magnificent Homo sapiens such outstanding looking troglodytes during the filming of One Million Years B.C.? Well, the answer is of course: The Paleo Diet!
Yes, the Paleolithic diet, which is based on the same dietary principles followed by our ancestors a long, long, time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (Oh wait, wrong movie). During the 2.6 million years that our Paleolithic ancestors inhabited the earth, they depended upon nutrition from lean meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. As a result, Loana (Raquel Welch), was lean, fit (hubba-hubba), and free of the chronic diseases that plague our society in epidemic proportions today.
Diets changed considerably in the space of a few thousand years, owing to the dawn of agriculture and the introduction of cereal grains. Today, a concerted effort is required to avoid highly processed foods containing minimal nutritional value and chemicals with cumulative, adverse effects.
Given that there has been little change in the human genome since Paleolithic times, our nutritional requirements remain similar to those of the Stone Age hunter-gatherers. Thus, a diet that espouses Paleolithic principles — a balanced ratio of low net carbohydrates, high quality proteins, and essential fats — may be the ideal route to the attainment of robust health, energy, and vitality. The Paleo diet is a very healthy diet, says Loren Cordain, PhD, Colorado State University professor and author of The Paleo Diet.
"Clinical trials have shown that the Paleo Diet is the optimum diet that can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, blood pressure, markers of inflammation, help with weight loss (you knew this was coming), reduce acne, promote optimum health and athletic performance," Cordain says.
Supporters of this nutritional approach have published papers and books, and created web sites, to promote it. They argue that today's typical Western diet is responsible for the epidemic levels of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
So, why turn back the hands of time and eat that way again? Because we all want to look like Loana and Tumak, that's why! The premise is that our bodies are genetically programmed to eat like our Paleolithic ancestors. Proponents claim it's the biologically appropriate diet that suits us best, with the proper balance of nutrients to promote health and reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. Finally, it doesn't hurt that they ran all over creation running from Dinosaurs and other marauding tribes, but that another story.
The Paleo Diet is now available in a 21st Century version at: Innovative Nutrition, 206 Rt. 25A, East Setauket, or online at: www.innovative-nutrition.net
