The paleo diet is a way of eating that harkens back to our ancestors. While we’re not eating exactly what our ancestors ate thousands of years ago, the premise is to eat a diet composed of real, whole foods. Food as nature intended it to be - before farming came into the picture. 

When following the paleo diet, there is no calorie counting required. There is no need to track your carb intake. There’s no weighing or measuring your food. All you have to do is stick to paleo-friendly foods. If it’s paleo, you can eat it. It’s a really great opportunity to tune back into your body - eat when you feel hungry and stop when you feel satisfied. Skip the junk and focus on foods that support your health. 

Paleo foods are those that are inherently nourishing to your body. In a very basic sense, a well-balanced paleo diet includes eating high-quality protein, vegetables, starches, fruit, nuts, seeds and healthy fats. If it sounds simple, it’s because it is! You can eat any amount and combination of these foods that you see fit for your own body and lifestyle. 

The foods that aren’t paleo-friendly are foods that have been commonly known to cause health issues or be irritating to the skin, gut or overall health. This includes dairy, gluten, sugar, legumes, unhealthy fats, processed foods. You know the foods that make up the standard American diet...the candy, soda, junk food, fast food, alcohol, etc. Those are the ones that you want to avoid. 

The paleo diet roared to popularity in the 2000s because of the health benefits associated with it. This, of course, includes weight loss. But there’s a multitude of other benefits such as: clearer skin, more energy, improved sleep quality, improved digestion and mental clarity - to name a few.