research. Since 1987 Dr. Loren Cordain, professor of
exercise physiology at Colorado State University, has
used research and scholarship to promote a paleo diet.
Description
General principles
Paleo diets are based on the theory that, since the
human genome has changed very little in the past
40,000 years, modern human nutritional requirements
should be identical to those of paleolithic humans.
However neanderthin is not just a diet—it is a
hunter/gatherer way of life. Audette wrote: ‘It’s the
most natural way to eat. It’s the way to become most
in tune with nature. As I’ve been doing this, I’ve been
becoming more and more of an uncivilized man. I’m
no longer a spectator of nature, I’m a participant.
Philosophically, you become one with the hunter-
gatherer within you.
In general paleo diets consist of:high protein—about 29% compared with 15% in the
typical modern diet
medium fat—38% compared with 34% in the mod-
ern diet
low-to-medium carbohydrate—33% compared with
48% in the modern diet
no alcohol compared with an average of 3% in a
modern diet
high levels of omega-3 fats
healthy monounsaturated fats from canola, walnut,
and olive oils
carbohydrates with a low glycemic index (GI) from
fruits and vegetables
high soluble fiber
small amounts of honey or maple syrup
high amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, antiox-
idants, and phytochemicals.
Paleo diets include little or no:
saturated or trans fats
refined sugars
grains
high-GI carbohydrates
salt
processed foods.
Audette concluded that obesity and various diseases
are immune responses to foods introduced via tech-
nology. Thus neanderthin is defined by its non-reli-
ance on technology. Audette wrote: ‘A natural diet is
what is edible when you are naked with a sharp stick.’
Food in the neanderthin diet must be edible without
cooking, although it does not have to be eaten raw.
Allowable foods
Neanderthin is a diet of:
lean meat with low levels of saturated fats
fish and other seafood with high levels of omega-3
fats
eggs
vegetables, especially root vegetables but not potatoes
nuts
berries
fruit.
ANIMAL PRODUCTSMeats, seafood, and eggs are
the most important components of paleo diets. Ideally
these come from animals fed on naturalorganic food
and from free-range chickens. Pasture-fed beef and
lamb are lower in fat than grain-fed animals. Wild
game is the lowest in fat and is the preferred meat.
Because of the dangers of bacterial and parasitic con-
tamination, Audette does not suggest eating meat,
poultry, eggs, or seafood raw unless it has been irradi-
ated. Meat should be lightly cooked or cooked by
paleolithic methods—slow cooking over low heat—a
with a crock pot rather than a microwave. Processed
meats should be without preservatives or additives
such as corn, corn products,soy, starch, or sugars.
Paleo diets include unlimited quantities of unpro-
cessed meat such as:
grass-fed bison and beef
chicken
lamb
pork
turkey
antelope
caribou
elk
kangaroo
ostrich
quail
rabbit
venison
fish
shellfish.
VEGETABLESMost vegetables are allowed, raw or
cooked, fresh or frozen, including:
artichokes
asparagus
broccoli
Brussels sproutsNeanderthin