What is the Caveman Diet?

Also known as Paleo or Paleolithic diet, this latest addition among the numerous healthy diet plans is a revisit to the era of cavemen. It is known by many other names, including the Warrior diet and the Stone Age diet. Based on the fact that the diet of paleolithic ancestors is more suitable for human beings, this power diet is supposed to increase energy and metabolic rate, and help promote weight loss. Proponents of this diet firmly believe that our body is attuned to the diet of our ancient ancestors, as there is a natural balance of nutrients that help in reducing the risk of diseases.

The diet proceeds in three stages:

• Stage one – This stage targets the increase in energy levels and burning of fat. During this stage, one is allowed to keep eating small quantities of fruit and unsalted, raw nuts during the day and feast on food of choice during night. This freedom is expected to lead to improve the taste for healthy food. Once the cravings for food and hunger are under control, one can move to the next stage.
• Stage two – This is the stage for detoxifying, normalizing insulin and sugar levels, and reduces addictions to particular food items. In this stage, which extends from two weeks to eight weeks, a person drinks plenty of water during the day and eats nothing. Similar to stage one, night is the feast time to have anything like meat, eggs, fruit, vegetables, nuts, and berries. As stage two proceeds, the desire to have healthy food is expected to increase considerably.
• Stage three – The goal of this stage is to make the person enjoy their relationship with food. During this stage one can graze on any of the unprocessed foods like seeds, vegetables, nuts, fish and lean meat. This stage can be continued for how long one wants or restart with the other stages to fall back into the groove. By the end of this stage the body is expected to love good food and crave for the same at appropriate time. In short, one learns to listen to the rhythm of the body better after completing three stages.

There are some benefits linked to this diet, including limited restrictions on the amount of food, reduced cravings, stress on healthy foods, loss of extra pounds, and reduced risk of diseases, like obesity, high blood pressure, inflammation and diabetes.

While it is acceptable to many people, there are a few drawbacks too. Depending totally on organic foods for the diet is an expensive option which many may not be able to afford. Eating while on the move, which many of us have to follow, becomes hard with this diet. To add to it is the inconvenience of avoiding processed foods.