I've always thought the whole "paleo-diet" thing was a bit dodgy — natural selection doesn't mean perfection, just satisfaction in order to pass on genes, and the while there's plenty wrong with our diets today, it's not necessarily because 50,000 years ago we were eating more grubs and fallen fruit and antelope haunches than we currently do.
“Paleofantasy”: Stone Age delusions
An evolutionary biologist explains why everything you think you know about cavemen (and their diet) is wrong
73 view(s)
This article is incredibly interesting, but arguing old data. I suppose some out there still live and die by paleo, but most have moved on and adapted from it.
Most of the paleo people are on real food diets. Avoiding sugar, eating healthy fats, eating bread with heritage gains, and eating pasture meats and veg.
In any case, more evidence is showing that a paleo diet actually works. So despite one's opinions there is still research showing efficacy. Dr. Lustig (well respected and not seen as a health nut to my knowledge) documents the evidence well from all sides.
Lots of competing (and opposing) diet regimens show evidence of a health benefit. To me that's evidence that the simple act of paying attention to what you eat, avoiding processed foods, and limiting fat and sugar is inevitably going to be kinda good for you.
I'm suspicious that there is any one true diet. Like Michael Pollan said: "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly vegetables."