10 keys to following the Paleo diet

New diet trends seem to surface daily, but the Paleo Diet has had serious staying power since the book of the same name came out in the early 2000s. Colorado State University professor Loren Cordain, PhD, wrote the book after being introduced to the concept of prehistoric diets in the 1980s. The eating plan advocates for high-fat, protein-rich, and veggie-heavy meals, reasoning that those were the types of foods people would have hunted, scavenged, and eaten in the Paleolithic era.

On the diet, you’re encouraged to eat lean meats, healthy fats, and most fruits and vegetables. But grains, dairy, beans, and processed foods are off-limits.

Proponents of Paleo claim the diet benefits digestion, helps control glucose and blood pressure levels, decreases inflammation, and may even help with weight loss. Critics suggest the diet is too restrictive to sustain long-term, and that following it could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Here’s what to know about Paleo, whether it lives up to the hype, and what to eat and avoid if you give it a try.