Justina CoelhoUnlike complicated fad diets or tedious calorie-counting regimes, the Paleo Diet, founded by Dr. Loren Cordain, takes things back to basics. Way back – all the way to the Paleolithic era. Translation? If a caveman didn't eat it, then you shouldn't either.
Tens of thousands of years ago, before Doritos and Lucky Charms, our Stone Age ancestors thrived on a nutrient-dense diet of meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats from nuts and seeds, without the added growth-stimulating hormones, antibiotics and toxins that crept into our food during the Agricultural Revolution. This nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle didn't allow for cultivating crops (or lugging a cow around), resulting in a diet completely devoid of grains, dairy, sugar, alcohol or any other processed or refined foods, like corn, white potatoes, and peanuts.
While experts can't seem to agree on whether pledging Paleo is a passing fad or a seriously smart way of life, we'll let these 10 famous Stone Age-savvy people help you decide.
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Jack Osbourne; Credit: Flickr/David Shankbone
10. Jack Osbourne
Jack Osbourne, son of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, turned Paleo after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. With no known cure for MS, an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, the former reality TV star sought the anti-inflammatory benefits of the Paleo diet. “At its core, I look at MS as inflammation, so I try and eliminate foods that cause inflammation: dairy, gluten and grains” Osbourne told ABC News.
9. Eva La Rue
The coveted curves of this CSI: Miami star are a result of her passion for the Paleo lifestyle. Robb Wolf, author of the widely-popular how-to guide, The Paleo Solution, quotes La Rue on his website. “I am a firm believer in The Paleo Solution,” says La Rue. “Since adopting a Paleo way of eating I look and feel better, and I know that I am setting a good example for my daughter.”
Grant Hill; Credit: Wikipedia Commons/Keith Allison
8. Grant Hill
Beloved L.A. Clippers star Grant Hill announced his retirement last year, making him the oldest player in the NBA. How did this seven-time NBA All-Star manage to stay in tip-top shape throughout his 19-year basketball career? It may have something to do with his strong belief in the Paleo lifestyle, which he believes is what allowed him to compete with the other “kids” on the court, even in his early forties.
“I think I'll wear out mentally before I will physically,” Grant said in an interview with Paleo Lifestyle Magazine. “I know that sounds crazy because I've had a lot of injuries, but I feel now at 40 that I'm in better shape than when I was 32 or 33, and I know a lot of that has to do with eating.”
Uma Thurman; Credit: Flickr/David Shankbone
7. Uma Thurman
This butt-kicking Kill Bill character (think more hunter, less gatherer) maintains a strict health regime by following a Paleo-esque lifestyle. A raw food guru, Thurman centers her diet on whole, nutrient-dense foods.
See also: Top 10 Famous Vegans
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Jessica Biel; Credit: Flickr/Maggie
6. Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel is another Hollywood starlet praised for her bombshell body. Along with following a strict exercise regime (she's a big fan of CrossFit), this A-list actress swears by a clean and green Paleo diet. “It just leans you down and slims you up and takes that little layer of fat, skin, and water-weight right off your body,” she said in an interview with CrossFit Zone.
Aaron Rodgers; Credit: Wikipedia Commons/Mike Morbeck
5. Aaron Rodgers
The Paleo movement is spreading from Hollywood to locker rooms as professional athletes catch on to the “caveman” lifestyle. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told ESPN that he brought his copy of The Paleo Diet on his road trip to Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. (Which they won). Not too much the Paleo diet can do for a separated shoulder, though.
Megan Fox; Credit: Flickr/Instagram: @fyonka240
4. Megan Fox
This Transformers star is known for her fit physique. But it was her rapid post-pregnancy bounce-back that really turned heads when she flaunted a form-fitting dress at theThis is 40 movie premiere just three months after giving birth to her son. Her advice? Channeling her inner cave woman, particularly avoiding dairy products. “Try and stay away from dairy – especially if you're a woman! It's really hard on your hormones,” Fox told US Weekly.
See also: Top 10 Famous Vegans, 2012 Edition
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Kobe Bryant; Credit: Flickr/WDPG Share
3. Kobe Bryant
Chasing that sixth championship ring requires this Laker Show star to stay in superior shape. Although not a strictly Paleo dieter, Bryant focuses on eating only pasture-fed produce, limiting his intake of carbohydrates, and erasing sugar and processed foods from his diet. The result? “I feel like I can run all day long,” Bryant says. “A lot of that has to do with diet and being committed to it, and watching what I eat.”
2. Matthew McConaughey
Everyone in Hollywood knows (with plenty of paparazzi photos to prove it) that Matthew McConaughey isn't afraid to show off his physique in public. Not wearing a shirt helps too. Dubbed one of People Magazine's “Sexiest Men Alive,” the actor commits to eating Paleo 90 percent of the time. When he's eating, that is. (See: Dallas Buyers Club.)
Miley Cyrus; Credit: samborowski/Flickr
1. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has permanently given bread a bad rap, nixing it entirely from her diet due to her gluten and lactose allergies.
“Everyone should try no gluten for a week! The change in your skin, physical and mental health is amazing. You won't go back!” Cyrus told US Weekly. The Paleo grain-free policy make this low-carb, dairy-free diet compatible with Cyrus' gluten-free lifestyle.
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