Paleo Diet
The paleo diet centres on foods presumed available to early humans — lean meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds — while excluding grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugar and processed food.
Plain English
Patient-Friendly Explanation
The paleo (Paleolithic) diet centres on foods presumed available to early humans — lean meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts and seeds — while excluding grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugar and processed food.
Medical
Clinical Definition
The paleo diet is a dietary pattern that excludes grains, legumes, dairy, refined sugars and ultra-processed foods. Short-term randomised trials report favourable effects on weight, waist circumference and some metabolic markers; longer-term evidence for superiority over other structured diets is limited. Exclusion of whole food groups raises the potential for nutrient shortfalls and requires monitoring.
Key Insight
Why It Matters
Its main benefit for weight management is indirect: it removes ultra-processed and energy-dense foods, which tends to lower total energy intake. As with any restrictive pattern, the question is whether it is sustainable in a Singapore food environment — the clinic focuses on adaptations that survive real life.
Sources
Reviewed against standard medical references.
Medically reviewed by
Family Physician & Registered Acupuncturist, Accord Medical Clinic. MBBS (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (NUS), Graduate Diploma in Acupuncture (Singapore College of TCM).
Last reviewed: August 2026
This page is general health education, not medical advice. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you is a decision made in consultation after assessment.
