Dr. Cordain did an interview answering ten questions about the basics of The Paleo Diet®. We wanted to share his answers with you. We hope you enjoy!
- The Paleo Diet Team
1. What is The Paleo Diet?
The essence of the idea is to emulate the nutritional characteristics of our hunter-gatherer ancestors with contemporary foods and food groups generally found in supermarkets, Sprouts, Whole Foods, etc.
2. Where should Paleo beginner's start?
I suggest visiting my website and read many of the beginner articles, including What To Eat on a Paleo Diet.
3. Is The Paleo Diet healthy?
Improved health in almost every regard. One of the first parameters people accustomed to eating the typical U.S. diet is improved energy levels throughout the day. Improved blood lipids can occur with days to a week. Sleep is better, particularly when salt and alcohol are reduced. Over the long haul, weight is normalized, and many illness and disease symptoms are ameliorated or improved.
4. What lead you to writing the book "The Paleo Diet"?
I have written a blog post outlining the beginnings of the contemporary Paleo Diet movement and my involvement in it at the early stages before the concept became commonly known.
Here are a few books that inspired me:
Additionally, a number of key early scientific papers were responsible for today’s Paleo Diet notoriety, including:
Scientific papers:
- Shatin R. The transition from food-gathering to food-production in evolution and disease. Vitalstoffe Zivilisationskrankheitein 1967;12:104-107.
- Yudkin, J. Archaeology and the nutritionist. In: The Domestication and Exploitation of Plants and Animals, PJ Ucko, GW Dimbleby (Eds.), Chicago, Aldine Publishing Co, 1969, pp. 547-552.
- Truswell AS. Human Nutritional Problems at Four Stages of Technical Development. Reprint. Queen Elizabeth College (University of London), Inaugural Lecture, May, 1972.
- Abrams, HL. The relevance of Paleolithic diet in determining contemporary nutritional needs. J Applied Nutr 1979;31: 43-59.
- Eaton SB, Konner M. Paleolithic nutrition. A consideration of its nature and current implications. N Engl J Med 1985;312:283-9.
My book “The Paleo Diet” was published in 2002, and I may have coined the term “Paleo Diet”. However, the concept is certainly not mine, but rather came as a result of numerous scientific writers before me.