Unpacking the Paleo Diet

Support us on Patreon, and see our full list of references on our website!Do you need to eat like a caveman to unlock your ancestral potential? Spoiler: no, and also, which caveman? The whole premise falls apart the second you ask a follow-up question.This week, we're taking on the Paleo Diet, not just what it says you should eat, but why it exists in the first place. Turns out the history goes way deeper than CrossFit bros and beef sticks. We trace the roots of "ancestral eating" back to 19th-century wilderness cults, Gilded Age masculinity panic, and a 1975 diet book with...some pretty dark roots. From there, we dig into why Paleo took off in Silicon Valley and the manosphere, how it became a $500 million industry selling you a return to nature via Amazon Prime, and what the research actually says about eliminating grains and legumes. Spoiler: your gut bacteria are not thrilled.Kylee breaks down the science on whole grains, the microbiome, and why the "mismatch hypothesis" doesn't hold up to evolutionary scrutiny. Zoë gets lost in Paleo subreddits, finds some surprisingly chill Burning Man content, and connects the dots between diet ideology, gender anxiety, and consumer capitalism.If you've ever wondered why some guy at your gym is very passionate about seed oils, this one's for you.This episode is brought to you by:Janji — Up to 30% off sitewide through December 1st. Code YDS for 10% off your first order at janji.comOsmia — 20% off Friday through Monday. Code YDS20 at osmiaskincare.comTailwind Nutrition — Code YOURDIET20 for 20% off your first order at tailwindnutrition.comMicrocosm Coaching — Book a free consultation at microcosmcoaching.com