How to Do the Caveman Diet
The “Caveman Diet” (also referred to as the Paleo or Paleolithic diet) is based on the idea that our bodies are better adapted to what our human ancestors ate during the Paleolithic era. The premise of this diet is that you’ll regain lost fortitude and grow to be as strong and vital as our ancestors. While we don’t have the predators, caves, and short lifespans of the caveman to contend with, there is the reality that many of the foods we consume aren’t very healthy for us. And for some, a return to eating like cavemen of yore is a way of restoring a little balance. In case you’re interested in trying out this diet, here are some ways to get started.
Method 1: Get Ready
Decide what extent you’re prepared to take the diet. The elements of the caveman diet vary according to which source or practitioner of the diet you follow. However, it is possible to discern some basic elements that you can use to form your take on this diet:
- Some followers of the caveman diet eat large quantities of meat and then fast for up to 36 hours at a time. This is supposed to emulate the times of lean in between meals that hunters and gatherers experienced. At this extreme, fruit and vegetables are appropriate but nothing baked, such as bread, or other foods that only came about with the introduction of agriculture. Be aware that some experts dispute the health benefits of fasting and the unsuitability of products created by agriculture for the human body.
- Some caveman practitioners avoid eating items from the nightshade family. These would not have been available to paleolithic hunter gatherers. Others see this as taking things too far.
- While some cavemen diet followers consume raw meat, others point out that paleolithic humans had fire and were able to cook.
- Ultimately, the diet is viewed as very much “do-it-yourself”, to be tailored to suit your body’s own needs.