Tag: Paleolithic eating

Archaeological evidence suggests that our ancient ancestors' diets were more varied than previously thought, including wild grains and plants. The modern caveman diet, or Paleo diet, is based on the premise that consuming foods eaten by Paleolithic humans can improve health by better aligning with our genetics.

Scientific evidence shows that humans did not consume grains in significant quantities until the agricultural revolution began around 10,000 years ago. The core principle of the paleo diet is to avoid grains because they were not part of our ancestral diet and are believed to contribute to modern health issues like inflammation and blood sugar problems.

The Paleolithic era, approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago, is the basis of the modern caveman diet. This eating pattern, also known as the Paleo diet, focuses on consuming foods available to our ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors. It has become very popular in recent decades among those seeking to improve their health and well-being.

Archaeological evidence and observations of modern hunter-gatherer communities reveal that our Paleolithic ancestors did not follow a strict three-meals-a-day schedule. Instead of eating on a fixed timetable, the answer to how many meals did cavemen eat a day is tied to opportunity and availability, a stark contrast to modern eating habits.

According to nutritional experts, the paleo diet is not inherently a ketogenic diet because it allows a more moderate intake of carbohydrates from fruits and starchy vegetables. This contrasts with the highly restrictive carb limits necessary for ketosis, which is the metabolic goal of the ketogenic diet.

Originally proposed in a 1985 paper published in the *New England Journal of Medicine*, the Paleo diet is built on the theory that modern humans should eat foods similar to those consumed by our hunter-gatherer ancestors to prevent chronic disease. Understanding what qualifies as paleo involves focusing on whole, unprocessed foods and eliminating modern agricultural staples like grains and dairy.

While modern fruits have been selectively bred for sweetness, archeological findings and studies of contemporary hunter-gatherer tribes offer significant insights into **what fruit did cavemen eat**. This wild produce was typically smaller, tarter, and less sugary than the varieties we enjoy today, playing a seasonal, opportunistic role in their diets.