S. Sabishruthi

Paleolithic diet also known as stone-age diet, is based on those food items that were available during the Paleolithic period, which dated from 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 B.C. This diet includes food items such as meat, fish, fruits, vegetables along with a very small number of cereals, roots, eggs, nuts, and excludes items like dairy products, grains, sugar, legumes, processed or refined oils, salt, coffee or tea, and alcohol. On one hand, the Paleolithic diet is beneficial in the case of chronic conditions like type 2 DM, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and other such conditions. On the other hand, adherence to the Paleolithic diet leads to a few adverse effects like calcium deficiency, iodine, vitamin D, and more due to exclusion criteria of some food. Furthermore, evidence of clinical trials on a large population are needed as several trials conducted on a small sample will only lead to poor results resulting in lack of evidence. On a separate note, alternative diets are also opted for compensate the lack of elements to avoid any further medical consequences. Upcoming studies should throw light on clinically analyzing the health quality of excluding certain food items in the context of Paleolithic nutrition.