Before the introduction of agriculture, livestock and food production, human beings ate simply what they could acquire through hunting and foraging. According to the Caveman Diet or Paleolithic Diet, this simpler way of life promoted natural good health and optimal physical fitness in our earliest ancestors. The Caveman Diet and similar programs seek to recapture this primal vitality by replicating the diet of the Paleolithic Age. There are currently several "caveman" themed diet books and diets on the market. According to Paleo Diet.com, the Caveman Diet permits only those natural foods that were accessible to man's hunter-gatherer predecessors.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
One of the mainstays of hunter-gatherer societies was the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables. According to Paleo Diet.com, fruits picked by hunter-gatherer tribes were frequently smaller and tart, and the diet recommends seeking out these types of fruits when possible. In general, however, fresh fruits and vegetables are permitted in unlimited amounts on the Caveman Diet.
Lean Meat and Seafood
Lean meats and seafood are a very important component of the Caveman Diet, reports Paleo Diet.com. Ideally, wild game meat would best fit the guidelines of the diet, but free-range, grass-fed meat is also acceptable. Meat that is raised on artificial diets like grains is discouraged on the Caveman Diet, and you should also avoid processed meat. Foods like organ meat and bone marrow are permitted on this diet, since they would have been part of the diet of Paleolithic man. Fish should be wild caught and not farmed, reports Paleo Diet.com.
Nuts
High in healthy omega-3 fats and protein, nuts are another food that is permitted on the Caveman Diet, although seeds and beans are generally discouraged. According to PaleoDiet.com, the diet also excludes oils derived from seeds, since they wouldn't have existed in the hunter-gatherer diet. Instead, oils should be derived from fruits, such as olive and avocado, or tree nuts, such as coconut, walnut, almond, pecan and macadamia.
Fats
Unlike many popular weight loss diets, the Caveman Diet and similar plans don't place much of an emphasis on restricting fats. According to Paleo Diet.com, fats derived from grass-fed meats don't need to be restricted. CBS News reports that one type of caveman diet, called Neanderthin, is based on the concept that limiting fat ultimately leads to weight gain. Most diets based on hunter-gatherer models don't discourage the consumption of animal fat.
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