As someone who lives in Hollywood, I know all about how much fun it can be to follow celebrity gossip. Of all the gossip, celeb diets is one of the most followed topics. Hey – it’s not a bad thing to want a body like a star! Aside from the fun of it, people assume that if celebs are doing it, it must be legit. While it’s true that celebrities often have access to world renown doctors and nutritionists, we can’t be too quick to assume that when celebs start a new diet, it is a sign that the diet is based on science and good information. I’ve dealt with several of these doctors in my day job, and truly, I wouldn’t trust most of them with my lunch order.
However, unlike with the Beyonce lemon juice starvation diet, paleo ain’t no passing fad! Starting a few years back, there were rumors of celebs going the caveman route. A lot of these celebs are sticking to it and flaunting all the great benefits they’ve gotten.
Rumor Has It… That These Celebs Are Eating Like Cavemen!
Jack Osbourne
When it comes to celebrities eating paleo, Jack Osbourne is the name which comes up the most. He was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2012 and decided he needed to change his diet to manage the disease. He has been pretty vocal about his decision to go paleo and how it has helped him. On Dr. Oz, he said,
“Diet is a big thing. I’m a firm believer in you are what you eat. I juice a lot, I stick to a paleo diet. At its core, I look at MS as inflammation, so I try and eliminate foods that cause inflammation. Dairy, gluten, grains.” (Source)
It sounds like Jack Osbourne is following the autoimmune protocol of paleo. While we don’t know the specifics of his diet, Osbourne does say he was inspired by the story of Dr. Terry Wahls who overcame MS with diet. Osbourne may be using the Wahls’ protocol, which is almost identical to autoimmune paleo, to help manage his disease.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox used to follow a strict vegan diet and got bashed for being too skinny and not curvy enough. (I wrote about why I believe a vegan diet is detrimental to your health in this post). Well, she gave up that diet and rumor has it that she’s now one of the many celebrities eating paleo.
Jessica Biel
According to the Irish paper The Independent, Jessica Biel attributes her toned body to CrossFit and a paleo-style diet. We can’t be sure just how much Jessica sticks to the paleo diet, but she has publicly shunned carbs and processed foods and says she eats healthy fats. Yay, bacon! If Biel is on the paleo diet, then she is probably sticking to something like the 80/20 approach.
“You have to cheat once in a while. The trick is to know when to stop… When I’m working and I eat healthily all week, then I give myself one day — usually Sunday — when I eat just what I want.”
Matthew McConaughey
It’s not too surprising that someone who is often called “beefcake” is also rumored to be on the paleo diet. Going back several years, McConaughey has admitted to paleo-style eating, like getting rid of grains and processed foods. And you saw him in this movie, right? *clears throat* Just sayin’!
Miley Cyrus
It is no rumor that Miley Cyrus is anti-gluten. She has tweeted about how going gluten-free has helped her get into shape.
“Everyone should try no gluten for a week! The change in your skin, physical and mental health is amazing. You won’t go back!”
Along with getting rid of gluten, Miley Cyrus is rumored to be one of the celebrities eating paleo. I like how Miley Cyrus points out that it isn’t just about body image. She said, “It’s not about weight – it’s about health. Gluten is crap anyway.” (Source)
Agreed!
Tom Jones
At 73, Tom Jones looks amazing, but this wasn’t always the case. Just a few years ago, he weighed in at about 225 pounds. Then Tom decided it was time for a change and adapted a paleo diet and lifestyle. He lost about 35 pounds in 5 months of being on the paleo diet.
“I’d recommend it to anybody. It tells you to get back to the way we used to eat when we were hunters and gatherers. Eat anything that’s natural, meat, fish, veg, which you must eat raw as much as possible.” (Source)
Gwyneth Paltrow
Not only does Gwyneth Paltrow not eat grains, but her kids don’t either. Unfortunately, instead of congratulating the actress on helping her family stay healthy by elimination gluten from their diet, she was attacked by the media for “depriving” her children. If depriving your children of pop tarts is wrong, I don’t wanna be right. Gwyneth Paltrow recently published this cookbook which is filled with grain free recipes. I guess she’s more primal than paleo since rumor has it she recently demanded raw unpasteurized milk at at interview.
Eva La Rue
Of all the celebrities eating paleo, Eva La Rue of C.S.I. Miami is one of the most vocal advocates of the diet. She has attributed paleo with helping her keep up with her busy schedule. She also thanks the paleo diet for helping her look so amazing at her wedding.
“I am a firm believer in The Paleo Solution. I maintain a hectic schedule that starts early and finishes late. Filming a television series, maintaining my fitness, and being a mom can be harrowing some days. 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.”
Paleo Athletes
There are so many athletes who are rumored to be on the paleo diet that I can’t address them each individually. Rower Ursula Grobler says that she is strictly paleo before a competition. Pro boxer Andrew Flintoff says that the Caveman Diet helps him stay in shape. LA Clippers star Grant Hill – who happens to be the oldest player in the NBA – said that the paleo diet has helped him keep up with the younger players.
Kobe Bryant is rumored to be paleo. While we are at it, we can guess that the rest of the Lakers are probably also following a paleo-style diet because the nutritionist for the team is well-known paleo doctor Cate Shanahan.
The “Secret” of the Celebrity Diet
Even from the celebs who aren’t rumored to be paleo, you will still find the same diet advice recommended by pretty much all of them:
- Get rid of processed foods
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables
- Avoid carbs from grains
- Don’t be afraid to eat meat
Obviously, you can see the connection here. Most celebs are already following the basic guidelines of a paleo diet. That diet (along with a healthy regimen of exercise) is why they look so good and have the energy to keep up with their hectic lifestyles.
I’m actually not a big fan of celebrity gossip or star following, ironic, I know, but as we know, celebs are great at helping something go mainstream. Turning the conversation away from what they look like to why they look like they do is refreshing. If the current trend of paleo celebs keeps up, soon we will have a lot more people getting the benefits of the paleo lifestyle and perhaps save a few lives in the process. And that, is something I can certainly get behind!
Want to get started with paleo but not sure where to start?
My ebook Paleo Made Easy: Getting Your Family Started with the Optimal Healthy Lifestyle will help you do just that.
What celebrities did I miss? Please comment below!
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This is the first day of the paleo diet.I have DM2 , HTN and host of other health issues.So wish me luck.Thanks Teresa Wheeler
I’m so glad to see someone SUPPORTING Gwyneth Paltrow for giving her children the benefit of the paleo/primal diet.
Kids can still be kids without a never-ending stream of candies, cookies, and peanut-butter sandwiches. 30 years ago, my family took us out for dinner once a month – to McDonald’s or a pizza joint. Today, kids eat at those places several times a week, and if they eat at home, it likely came from a box in the freezer.
Gwyneth Paltrow should not be vilified for teaching her kids healthy eating habits!!
Wow, Brianna, such hostility! I know that eating paleo, (not Atkins) has helped with both my lupus and arthritis. I was using a walker to get from my bed to the restroom, after eating strict paleo for 20 days, I did not need my walker or even a cane! I also have not had a lupus flair up. It has been over 2 years that I went paleo, and I will NEVER eat any other way. I can walk, I have energy, and I am happier.
As for the caveman life expectancy, if they made it to adulthood, they lived as long or longer than us, with very little degenerative disease. Unfortunately for them, there were no vaccines, or antiseptics, and the world was less hospitable, ie: no forced air heat or air conditioning, no grocery stores, no tap in the next room for clean water, etc.
Tone down the hostility, let people who want to live clean do so, no one is going to force you to follow this lifestyle, it is an individual decision.
Thank you Anonymous ! Well said!
Just a side note…There were also no antibiotics or dentists in caveman days to treat infection resulting in millions of early deaths I’m sure.
Oh yeah, cancer, MS, and brain cancer never existed before foods became “processed”. Why did cavemen only have a life expectancy of 33 years?
Lack of infection control. Also, infant deaths were more common so those ages averaged into the life span.
@ Brianna- Don’t shoot the messenger! Look into it! Most of the people who give REAL food diets an honest try come out better for it. I know people who have beat cancer into remission by eating Paleo (Do your research. Not Atkins.), and yes, vastly improved their MS as well. Diet and lifestyle go a LONG way. If you don’t think that proper diet plays a big role in disease development and progression, you have some serious reading and learning to do. Here’s a start:
You are really suggesting the Atkins diet (I’m sorry….the more trendy “paleo diet” as you Hollywood wannabes like to call it) is able to cure MS? That is a despicable ascertion! Go learn about this horrific disease and understand how it effects the nervous system from a scientific point of view. Spread your garbage about the potential weight loss benefits of “eating like a caveman” but don’t you dare spread stupid ideas about how not eating carbs is going to cure a disease of the nervous system.
Not true ATKINs allows 20 to 40 grams of healthy carbs Paleo is 65 to 150. Atkins wants you to eat lots of unhealthy dairy Paleo doesn’t. Paleo is basically eating healthy foods, And is a diet you can stick to easily and be healthy. Atkins in not as you do not eat enough fruit and veggies to get the vitamins you need.