Paleo Diet vs Keto: What’s the Difference and Which Is Right for You?

Did you know that according to the World Health Organization, nearly two billion people worldwide are obese? Because of this, more people are making dietary changes to improve their health than ever before. 

Two of the most popular diets are the paleo diet and the keto diet. They both promote low-carb eating and incorporating healthy fats. 

But when it comes down to the paleo diet vs keto, which is better? 

What Is a Paleo Diet?

A paleo diet focuses on returning to the simpler days — specifically, all the way back to the Paleolithic period when hunters and gatherers roamed the earth.

The paleo diet prohibits eating anything that our Paleolithic ancestors wouldn’t have — so say goodbye to processed foods, refined sugars, dairy, and grains. 

The whole philosophy of paleo is that our bodies were designed for a particular diet. Modern-day cuisine is full of processed food and does more harm than good according to this food philosophy. 

By returning to an ancient cuisine, supporters believe that you’ll become healthier and lose weight. 

What Is a Keto Diet?

Keto is similar to paleo because it focuses on low-carb consumption and healthy fat. However, the keto philosophy is very different. 

Keto is short for ketosis, a state that your body enters when it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. For most people, our primary energy source comes from carbs, which then get turned into glucose.

A keto diet seeks to completely change that and make your body’s primary energy source fat. Followers claim that this makes your body more efficient at burning fat and helps you lose weight.

To achieve ketosis, your carb intake must be severely restricted. It’s recommended to stay below 20g – 50g of carbohydrates per day in order to maintain ketosis, depending on how much you eat. An apple a day, which contains 25g of carbohydrates, could fulfill your keto carb allowance. 

Paleo Diet vs Keto Diet

Both diets place a similar emphasis on high-fat and low-carb eating. However, there are some important differences. There are pros and cons of a paleo diet as well as pros and cons of a keto diet. 

One of the pros of paleo is that it’s less restrictive than keto. The paleo diet doesn’t ask followers to track micronutrients. You don’t have to keep track of the number of nuts or fruits you eat, because you don’t need to know how many grams of carbohydrates you eat daily.

Paleo also allows more vegetables and fruits to be staples of your diet, regardless of carbohydrate content. Certain sugars, like unprocessed honey, agave, and other natural sweeteners are allowed with paleo but not with keto. 

That isn’t to say that the keto diet is without its benefits! One of the major pros is how effective it can be for weight loss when compared to paleo since it emphasizes burning body fat.

According to Cade Hildreth, former professional athlete and author at cadehildreth.com, keto might have a positive impact on your metabolism. “Most report that dieting on keto burns around 300 more calories per day compared to those with different diet plans,” writes Hildreth. “It means burning more calories and feeling fuller while consuming less food.”

Keto can help stabilize blood sugar, decrease inflammation, and was developed to help those with epilepsy.

The paleo diet focuses on lifestyle changes, and the keto diet focuses on tracking macronutrients and being in full control over what fuels your body. Take a look at this article from Proper Good for more information about these 2 diets. 

Ready to Start Your Health Journey?

Whether you’re looking for a holistic lifestyle change or a diligent diet that overhauls the way your body burns energy, both of these low-carb diets are great options.

When it comes to the paleo diet vs keto, consider your own habits and intended results to decide which would fit best into your daily routine.

Be sure to browse through more of our articles to help you along your health journey!