by Angela Halderson
As we step into 2026, more people than ever are questioning the modern diet and searching for a healthier, more natural way to eat, reverse disease, lose weight, and heal their bodies.
Welcome to the Proper Human Diet — an approach centered on real, whole foods and a better understanding of how the human body is designed to thrive. Rather than chasing trends or quick fixes, this way of eating focuses on simplicity, nourishment, and long-term health. In this article and future ones, I’ll explore the principles behind the Proper Human Diet and how it offers a thoughtful alternative for the modern world.
The term “Proper Human Diet”is used by some physicians and nutritionists to describe a way of eating that focuses on foods humans have relied on for most of our evolutionary history: meat (and sometimes dairy).
At its core, the Proper Human Diet prioritizes whole, real food: grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish, eggs, healthy fats, and — depending on the individual — small amounts of dairy. Highly processed foods, refined sugars, and industrial seed oils are completely removed from the diet, and yes, so are fruits and vegetables. Sounds crazy, right? Or is this actually the way humans should be eating? Did our cavemen ancestors eat meat or veggie lasagna?
Supporters of the Proper Human Diet often point out that for most of human history, food was scarce, seasonal, and unprocessed. Humans did not evolve eating refined flour, sugary drinks, or ultra-processed snacks. From this perspective, many modern health issues — such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease — are seen as consequences of a mismatch between our biology and the modern food environment.
The Proper Human Diet also brings us carbohydrate awareness. While not everyone following this approach eats only meat or dairy, all followers of the Proper Human Diet completely avoid all grains, fruits, and starchy vegetables like potatoes. This is based on evidence that excess carbs raise blood sugar and insulin levels, which cause metabolic disease.
Followers of the Proper Human Diet also remove fruits and vegetables from their diet for a variety of reasons. First, fruits are high in fructans and other sugars. Years of food science have also increased the sugar content of fruits and vegetables. Other data shows natural plant chemicals like lectins, phytates, oxalates, or salicylates block absorption of other nutrients from a diet. Why eat something if it is going to limit your body’s ability to absorb nutrients?
Over the next few months, I’m going to talk more about this very different way of eating. Have we been taught wrong? Or, is this just another silly diet trend? Continue reading at http://www.strongmeridian.com.
This article was originally published in the February 2026 issue of Appleton Monthly Magazine.
