Biological and Clinical Potential of a Palaeolithic Diet

Purpose: To explore the possibility that a Palaeolithic diet, i.e. one that corresponds to what was available in any of the ecological niches of pre‐agricultural humans (1.5 million–10,000 years bp), is optimal in the prevention of age‐related degenerative disease.Design: Literature review.Materials and Methods: Between 1985 and December 2002, more than 200 scientific journals in medicine, nutrition, biology and anthropology were systematically screened for relevant papers. Computer‐based searches and studies of reference lists in journals and books provided a vast number of additional papers.Results: Increasing evidence suggests that a Palaeolithic diet based on lean meat, fish, vegetables and fruit may be effective in the prevention and treatment of common Western diseases. Avoiding dairy products, margarine, oils, refined sugar and cereals, which provide 70% or more of the dietary intake in northern European populations, may be advisable. Atherosclerosis is highly dependent on dietary manipulation in a...