MONDAY, May12, (News Locale) - Our ancestors maintained good health and enjoyed longevity as they followed a caveman's diet that included plenty of berries, nuts, lean meat, fish and vegetables. A new study has suggested that people who want to lose weight and reduce their risk of heart disease must follow the same diet. 

This means that modern day dietary necessities like cereals, dairy products and refined sugar must be abandoned. The stone-age-style diet was tested out on 20 healthy volunteers by Swedish researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Huddinge led by Dr Per Wandell.

For three weeks the volunteers only ate foods that could have been hunted or picked by people living in caves. Bread, milk, butter, cheese sugar, pasta, rice, fruit juice or alcohol was not allowed for this period of three weeks. At the end of the study period, the researchers found that all volunteers had lost five pounds in weight.

Furthermore they had trimmer waistlines and their systolic blood pressure readings were down by three millimeters of mercury.

However one word of caution is that there is a deficiency of calcium in the diet because of the exclusion of dairy products. Consumers wishing to start this diet need to consult firt with their doctors.

Women are especially at risk because calcium deficiency may lead to osteoporosis after menopause. Nevertheless the study demonstrates that our ancestors were able to lead a healthy and hearty life by making judicious use of whatever food resources they had at their disposal during those times.