Power Trim The Paleolithic diet is also known as the primal, Stone Age or caveman diet. Today, it consists of processed foods, vegetable oils, sugars and grains. In many places, these foods form the entire diet. This unhealthy lifestyle is the major cause for various ailments such as metabolic syndrome, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The Paleo diet aims to reduce the occurrence of such diseases by eating foods similar to those consumed by our ancestors. There are a few remote populations who haven't adopted the modern diet.