For me, Paleo is not about Paleolithic food or lifestyle reenactment. I enjoy my modern lifestyle very much. There are certain Neolithic foods that I think are proper and healthy--dairy, for example. I also think it’s a good idea to apply scientific reasoning on top of what we know about the way our ancestors ate. In other words, there may be big difference between a diet based on Paleolithic food reenactment and one that is oriented toward optimal health.
One thing that Taubes (Good Calories, Bad Calories) and others have clearly shown is the idea that minimizing insulin levels and insulin resistance is extremely important for long-term health. “High fat Paleo” is one way to accomplish that (it’s not just carbs that cause insulin production; protein does, too).
[[MORE]]In terms of evolutionary reasoning, there were many sources of fat in the Paleolithic world. In addition to the larger animals that Monica mentioned, Paleolithic people also ate the entire animal, including the marrow, skin and the brain, which are fatty. I have no doubt that bird eggs have been consumed by man for ages, and egg yolks are fatty. In fact, many birds are themselves reasonably fatty. Some indigenous peoples consider grubs to be a delicacy, and they are fatty. As a dense calorie source and something that’s normally very tasty and satiating, it wouldn’t surprise me if Paleo people were attracted to fat over protein.
I also don’t think that the exact diet of Paleolithic people is well-known enough or was consistent enough for it to be the sole foundation of what we eat today. Personally, I would rather have my diet be a Paleo-inspired, but science-driven approach.
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