The company’s founder said he had a lightbulb moment when he realized that (1) chimps are our closest genetic relatives and (2) their insanely healthy diet helped them stay free of all health problems. We’re all for his aha moment—except for the fact that clause No. 2 is pretty inaccurate: Chimps are actually prone to developing many of the same diseases that humans get. And in addition to all those plants, chimps devour insects and small amounts of meat (nowhere to be seen in the Chimp Food offerings). MORE: The Real Paleo Diet Was Actually Super Gross All monkeying aside, even if primates did thrive on an all-raw vegan diet, people definitely won’t. While eating more fresh produce and fats and protein from plants is a good thing (and part of a healthy diet), most experts agree that it’s not sustainable in the long run. “This diet doesn’t offer the complete nutrients we need as humans, like protein and vitamin B12,” says New York City CrossFit coach Erica Giovinazzo, a registered dietitian. Still, that doesn’t mean fruit- and veggie-based drinks—including store-bought ones—are bad. Just don’t make them the cornerstone of your diet, since even superclean ones with fiber from whole plants (as opposed to zero-fiber juices) are sky-high in sugar. “Instead, drink half a bottle [about 8 ounces], and have it as part of a meal with some fat and protein, like roast chicken and a salad,” Giovinazzo says. The article “Move Over, Paleo: The Pre-Paleo Diet Is Here” originally ran on EatClean.com. MORE: Meet the Writer Who Tried 14 Insane Celebrity Diets
