It seems barely a week goes by without a new trendy diet being suggested by celebs and health experts. But what if the answer actually lies millions of years in the past?

What if eating like a caveman is the key to cutting the pounds, having clear skin, and getting rock-hard abs?

The paleolithic diet – or paleo diet – involves eating foods humans would have eaten during the Paleolithic Era – also known as the Stone Age. Among those to espouse the virtues of the diet are Hollywood stars Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey – and it certainly seems to pay off for them.

Also known as the ‘caveman diet’, it’s based on eating the same kinds of unprocessed foods early humans between 3.3 million and about 10,000 years ago would have been able to get their hands on. This means lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as lean meat, fish, and eggs – but nothing produced or farmed.

Many who follow the diet claim human genes aren’t designed to absorb processed foods, and that this is one of the key contributors to high levels of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Studies into the benefits of the diet are limited, but limited research has shown it can help lose weight and lower blood pressure, while controlling levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, the types of fat which are stored in blood and can contribute to heart disease.

Some health experts have warned the diet lacks in nutrients including fibre, and lack of limits on saturated fats. It may also put more strain on your wallet due to the higher prices of non-processed food products such as grass-fed animals, wild game, and nuts.