Why Gwyneth Paltrow took a step back from paleo diet: 'That was an interesting chapter'

Gwyneth Paltrow is easing up on her strict paleo and anti-inflammatory diet, allowing herself some indulgences. The Hollywood star opened up about her healthy lifestyle and revealed that she is now more flexible about her meals.

During a recent episode of her 'The goop' Podcast on April 22, the actress and businesswoman shared a glimpse at her evolving approach to food and her past obsession with healthy eating, admitting that she included more elements into her diet, including "a little pasta."

© Daniele Venturelli

The Oscar winner revealed that she and her husband, Brad Falchuk, embraced the paleo diet a few years ago. However, she's now "a little sick" of it and has started enjoying other things. "Brad and I became paleo a few years ago now, although I'm a little sick of it — if I'm honest — and getting back into eating some sourdough bread and some cheese," she admitted. 

© Steven Ferdman

“There, I said it, a little pasta. After being strict with it for so long,” she added. However, she emphasized that she still prioritizes healthy eating. She continues to focus on "as whole and fresh as possible" foods to manage "longer-term inflammation" and other health concerns. 

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Gwyneth acknowledged that her early dedication to extreme diets may have gone too far at times. “I went into hardcore macrobiotics for a certain time,” she recalled. “That was an interesting chapter where I got kind of obsessed with eating very, very healthily." 

© Gregg DeGuire

She shared that her obsession was driven by a desire to help her late father, Bruce Paltrow, who passed away in 2002 after battling throat cancer. "I think I was really trying to heal my dad by proxy and he just didn't really want anything to do with it," she said.

"I was sort of intoxicated by that idea, and I still feel that way to this day,” she explained. She now practices balance, seeing healthy eating as a "template" rather than a rigid lifestyle.