In the first controlled study of a Paleolithic diet in humans, researchers from Lund University in Sweden have shown remarkable health benefits in type 2 diabetic patients who undertook a ‘caveman’ diet for a period of 12 weeks.

Background Info

The biology of our digestive system was set hundreds of thousands of years ago, long before the agrarian revolution and the arrival of modern foods. It is logical then to assume that our ancestor’s choice of foods, such as root vegetables, fruits, nuts and lean meats is probably the safest and most suitable for our body’s needs. Conversely, the foods that we only started eating relatively late in our species existence, such as dairy products and refined sugars and fats could be prime suspects as possible health risks when consumed regularly.

Method and Results

Spurred by the knowledge that some populations around the world, that have no access to modern agrarian-based foods, have virtually no occurrences of diabetes or cardiovascular disease, the Swedish team decided to test the stone age diet with a group of type 2 diabetics and glucose intolerant participants.

These participants were fed a Paleolithic diet for three months, with a comparison group following a Mediterranean diet – eating whole grains, prunes and other foods generally considered to be healthy. At the end of the study, only the stone age group showed remarkable improvements to their blood glucose level. In fact, participants from the Paleolithic group showed normal blood glucose levels after a carbohydrate intake, with a 26% average drop in their response before and after the study.

Noting similarities between the groups, including weight change and caloric intake, the researchers concluded that something else was responsible for the dramatic improvement in carbohydrate response in the Paleolithic group. The evidence points to specific food difference between the groups. The stone age eaters had a lower intake of grains and dairy products; it has been suspected that such a diet can improve the metabolism of carbs and fats, and these findings help bolster this theory.

Conclusion

It seems that we as humans cannot escape our evolutionary lineage. With an ever-increasing amount food choices at our restaurants and food markets, choosing what foods to eat for better health has never been so confusing. Fortunately, the researchers of this study give some advice: it is better to limit our consumption of modern foods than to start counting calories and monitoring carbs. At least some things are getting simpler.