Q. The dietary coach at my gym recommended that I go on the Paleo diet. Is this a good idea? Im generally in good health and not overweight.

A.Susan B. Roberts, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Energy Metabolism Laboratory, replies, We do not recommend the Paleo diet. It has a very strange (non-scientific) view of what Paleolithic man ate, and does not provide a balanced, healthy diet. For somebody who is not overweight, the USDAs MyPlate is good general dietary advice.