paleo
3 synonyms for paleo, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A way of eating based on foods thought to have been available to hunter-gatherers — meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds — while excluding grains, pulses, dairy, refined sugar and processed foods.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
paleo diet
caveman diet
Stone Age diet
How to use paleo
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
paleo diet
go paleo
paleo recipe
paleo-friendly
strict paleo
Everyday in food and fitness contexts; the 'ancient' sense is academic.
Etymology
From Greek palaios, meaning ancient or old — the same root as in palaeolithic and palaeontology. British English spells the prefix palaeo-, American English paleo-.
Full origin of paleo →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between paleo and keto?
Paleo is defined by which foods are allowed — nothing farmed or processed after the Stone Age — and permits fruit, honey and starchy vegetables. Keto is defined by macronutrients: carbohydrate is cut low enough to shift the body into ketosis, but dairy and artificial sweeteners are fine. A meal can be both, but neither implies the other.
Can you eat dairy on paleo?
Strictly, no — milk, cheese and yoghurt arrived with farming, so standard paleo excludes them. Many people follow a looser version that allows butter, ghee or full-fat dairy.
Is paleo spelled paleo or palaeo?
The diet is almost always written paleo, since the term spread from American usage. In scientific British English the prefix keeps its older spelling: palaeolithic, palaeontology.
