PaleoPower is a South African ancestral nutrition resource founded in 2013 by Morgan Bell — built on a single belief: that what you eat is the most powerful lever you have over your long-term health. This site exists to help you understand the paleo diet and real-food eating in plain, honest language, grounded in research and lived experience.
Over a decade and thousands of articles later, PaleoPower remains independently run, editorially honest, and deeply South African in its perspective.
Who We Are
PaleoPower is an independent South African health and nutrition website dedicated to ancestral eating, real-food principles, and practical guidance on the paleo, banting, and low-carb lifestyle. Established in December 2013, it has grown into one of the most widely read paleo diet resources on the African continent.
Real Food First
Every recommendation centres on whole, minimally processed foods — the way humans have eaten for most of history.
Evidence-Informed
Health claims are backed by peer-reviewed research or established nutritional authorities — never unverified trends.
South African Context
Content reflects local food culture, SA brands, rand-priced options, and the unique banting-paleo overlap.
No Hype Policy
No miracle claims, no aggressive selling, no unsupported superlatives. Clear, calm, factual guidance only.
Morgan's Story: From Sick to Thriving
The story behind PaleoPower began not in a nutrition laboratory but in a doctor's waiting room — a frustrating cycle of tests, medications, and symptoms that never quite went away. Morgan Bell spent years managing the effects of undiagnosed coeliac disease alongside persistent allergies, digestive problems, and chronic low energy.
"I spent years not knowing why I felt so terrible — constantly exhausted, dealing with allergies, digestive problems, and a general sense that my body was fighting itself. When I eventually removed gluten and shifted to real, ancestral foods, the change wasn't gradual. It was dramatic. That experience became the foundation of everything on this site."
— Morgan Bell, Founder, PaleoPower
The turning point came through elimination dieting, research into ancestral nutrition, and discovering the evidence behind gluten intolerance and intestinal permeability. Replacing wheat and processed foods with quality proteins, vegetables, healthy fats, and seasonal South African produce produced results that years of conventional dietary advice had not.
Research Context
Coeliac disease affects approximately 1 in 100 people globally, yet most cases remain undiagnosed for years. Research in the American Journal of Gastroenterology indicates average diagnostic delay exceeds six years in many countries.
Morgan Bell is not a registered medical professional or licensed nutritionist. All content is research-informed and cites credible sources, but is not a substitute for individualised medical advice. Readers with complex health conditions are always encouraged to consult a qualified healthcare practitioner.
PaleoPower: Over a Decade of Ancestral Nutrition
PaleoPower has published continuously since 2013 — one of the longest track records of any paleo-focused resource in South Africa. That longevity means content has been tested, refined, and updated through multiple waves of nutritional research and shifts in SA dietary culture.
December 2013
PaleoPower Founded
Site launched by Morgan Bell following a personal health transformation. First articles cover paleo fundamentals and coeliac disease.
2014 – 2016
Banting Boom & SA Expansion
Prof. Tim Noakes's Real Meal Revolution transforms the SA dietary landscape. PaleoPower expands to cover banting, LCHF, and the paleo-banting overlap.
2017 – 2020
Recipe Library & Meal Plans
Major expansion of recipe content, meal plans, and food lists. Introduction of keto diet coverage. Site reaches tens of thousands of monthly readers.
2021 – 2023
Editorial Upgrade & E-E-A-T Standards
Content framework upgraded to meet Google's E-E-A-T quality standards. Full citation, disclaimer, and source-linking policy implemented across all health content.
2024 – Present
AI Tools & AEO Readiness
Introduction of AI-assisted recipes with full transparency disclaimers. Site rebuilt for AI search readiness. Legal framework expanded with new Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and Disclaimer.
What Is the Paleo Diet?
The paleo diet (Paleolithic diet) is an eating framework emphasising whole, minimally processed foods — quality meats, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds — while eliminating modern industrial foods such as refined grains, seed oils, added sugars, and legumes. It is modelled on the nutritional patterns of pre-agricultural human populations.
The core premise is that human physiology evolved over hundreds of thousands of years on a diet of wild animals, fish, foraged plants, and seasonal fruits. The modern industrial food environment arrived so recently in evolutionary terms that our metabolic systems have had little time to adapt.
Research from institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has consistently highlighted the role of ultra-processed food consumption in driving the global rise of metabolic disease, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
New to Paleo?
The simplest first step is removing foods with ingredient labels containing seed oils or added sugar. Explore our paleo diet guidelines for beginners for a step-by-step framework.
What the Paleo Diet Is Not
Paleo is frequently mischaracterised as purely carnivorous or weight-loss-only. A well-designed paleo approach is nutritionally diverse — rich in vegetables, varied proteins, and quality fats — and is as relevant to someone managing an autoimmune condition as it is to someone pursuing body composition goals.
Paleo in South Africa: Banting, Braai & Beyond
South Africa has a uniquely fertile context for ancestral eating — biltong, boerewors, braaied meats, fresh coastal fish, wild game, and a produce market culture that makes real food accessible in most urban centres. The banting movement, popularised by Professor Tim Noakes from 2013 onward, introduced millions of South Africans to low-carbohydrate, high-fat eating. The overlap with paleo is substantial, though the frameworks differ.
| Principle | Paleo | Banting (LCHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Framework | Evolutionary biology | Metabolic ketosis |
| Grains & Legumes | Excluded entirely | Excluded (too high-carb) |
| Dairy | Generally excluded (some allow grass-fed butter/ghee) | High-fat dairy allowed (cream, butter, hard cheese) |
| Macronutrient Focus | Food quality over macro ratios | Strict carbohydrate limit; fat as primary fuel |
| Fruit | Allowed (seasonal, lower-sugar) | Restricted (high fructose) |
| Biltong, Boerewors, Braai | Compatible | Compatible |
| SA Endorsement | Global movement, strong SA uptake | Popularised locally by Prof. Tim Noakes |
Many South Africans follow a practical hybrid — paleo-leaning food choices with banting-influenced carbohydrate restriction. For a full breakdown, read our guide on what is banting and how it compares to paleo.
Our Mission & Editorial Standards
PaleoPower's mission is to make ancestral nutrition accessible, honest, and practically useful — specifically for South Africans navigating a food environment filled with conflicting advice, processed-food marketing, and dietary trends that rarely last.
What We Always Do
- Cite peer-reviewed research and reputable institutions for health claims
- Distinguish between strong evidence, emerging research, and opinion
- Disclose affiliate relationships and sponsored content per ASA guidelines
- Update articles when new evidence supersedes older information
- Recommend professional consultation for diagnosed conditions
- Display a visible "Last updated" date on all content
What We Never Do
- Make unverified cure or treatment claims for any disease
- Use clickbait headlines or manipulative emotional framing
- Recommend products without genuine assessment of their merit
- Publish health content contradicting established medical science
- Present affiliate content as independent editorial without disclosure
- Use AI-generated content without transparency and caveats
How We Research & Write
Every substantive health or nutrition article on PaleoPower follows a defined editorial process:
Primary Research
We consult PubMed, Google Scholar, and established nutrition journals for peer-reviewed evidence.
Authority Check
Claims are cross-referenced against Harvard Health, HPCSA, ADSA, and SA clinical nutrition guidelines.
SA Contextualisation
Generic advice is adapted for South African food availability, pricing, and cultural food practices.
Claim Verification
Every factual health claim is checked before publication. Contested claims are clearly labelled.
Disclaimer Review
Health-adjacent content is reviewed against our Disclaimer and medical advice policy before publishing.
Ongoing Updates
Published articles are revisited when new research emerges. Each page shows its last updated date.
Key Takeaways
- PaleoPower is an independent South African paleo and ancestral nutrition resource founded in December 2013 by Morgan Bell
- The site was born from a personal health journey involving coeliac disease and the transformative effect of removing processed foods
- The paleo diet focuses on whole, minimally processed foods aligned with evolutionary nutrition — not a single macronutrient ratio
- South Africa's banting and paleo movements overlap significantly; PaleoPower covers both within a local cultural context
- All content follows a defined six-step research and editorial process before publication
- Morgan Bell is not a licensed medical professional — all content is informed research, not clinical advice
- PaleoPower does not replace professional medical advice — always consult a qualified practitioner for personalised guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PaleoPower?
Who is Morgan Bell?
Is the paleo diet the same as banting?
Is PaleoPower content medically reviewed?
Does PaleoPower cover South African food culture?
How do I get started with paleo?
Does PaleoPower use affiliate links?
How often is content updated?
Sources & References
- Cordain L, et al. (2005). Origins and evolution of the Western diet. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Fasano A. (2012). Leaky gut and autoimmune diseases. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Monteiro CA, et al. (2019). Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them. Public Health Nutrition. cambridge.org
- Rubio-Tapia A, et al. (2012). The prevalence of celiac disease in the United States. American Journal of Gastroenterology. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source. hsph.harvard.edu
- Noakes T, Proudfoot J, Creed SA. (2013). The Real Meal Revolution. Quivertree Publications, Cape Town.