Raw Paleolithic Diet

Many popular eating plans encourage people to follow a natural diet rich in real, whole foods and low in processed or refined ingredients. Paleolithic diets recommend an even more drastic change: Return to the dietary habits of prehistoric humans, hunters and gatherers who ate only what they could collect or kill from the wild. To follow a raw Paleolithic diet, you eat all of these foods raw.

Staples

Raw Paleolithic foods include fruits, vegetables, avocado, nuts, coconut, raw honey, fish, red meat and eggs. The diet allows oils from tree nuts and fruits, but not from vegetables, seeds or legumes. Permitted oils thus include olive, avocado, walnut and coconut oil, but not sunflower, canola, peanut or soybean oil.

Restrictions

The raw Paleolithic diet excludes all cooked and processed foods as well as grains, legumes, dairy and processed meats. This means no bread, rice, potatoes, beans, green beans, peas, corn, soy, cheese, yogurt or sausage. Some Paleolithic diets also exclude added salt.

Meal Ideas

Common raw meat and fish dishes include sushi, sashimi, raw oysters and clams, ceviche, steak tartare, beef Carpaccio and carne cruda. For more meal ideas, consider culinary innovations from raw food enthusiasts, many of whom are vegan. These include noodles made from zucchini; rice made from cauliflower; dips, pâtés and soups made from nuts, avocado and vegetables; flavorful salads; and many delicious desserts made from nuts and raw honey.

Recommendations

Adherents of the raw Paleolithic diet recommend eating meat and eggs only from organically raised, pastured animals. These animal products have a healthier ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and are less likely to be contaminated with E. coli or other bacteria. These claims are backed up by scientific evidence widely publicized by food journalist Michael Pollan. You may also find that these meat and egg products taste better than their industrial, factory-farmed counterparts, especially if they are also locally raised, according to the Organic Consumers Association.

Considerations

To obtain enough calcium on a raw Paleolithic diet, you will need to regularly consume raw leafy greens, broccoli, bok choy, okra, sesame seeds and almonds. If you plan to eat an animal-based, raw Paleolithic diet, keep in mind that excess protein may increase your need for calcium, according to the Harvard School for Public Health.

Warnings

A raw Paleolithic diet is highly restrictive. Most health experts advise against diets that eliminate whole food groups. Raw Paleolithic diets eliminate at least three: dairy, grains and legumes. An animal-based, raw Paleolithic diet may also be extremely high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates. This can lead to health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, excess weight, kidney problems and osteoporosis, according to the American Heart Association.