Keto Vs. Paleo
If you have been on the internet or social media lately then you have heard someone talking about either the Keto diet or the Paleo diet. Each has its own vehement proponents, telling their incredible weight loss stories and touting it as the greatest diet ever. Yet to someone who has not looked into either one, on the surface they may look so similar that it leaves you wondering, what exactly is the difference, and which is the best diet for me? I am breaking down Keto compared to Paleo.
What is the Ketogenic Diet?
The main purpose of the Ketogenic diet is to force the body into what is known as Ketosis. This is a state that the body enters where instead of burning carbs for fuel to keep working (glycogenesis), it burns fat and breaks it down into ketones which are then used as its main source of fuel. Basically, it is a backup energy source for the body.
On what would be a “typical” diet it is suggested that 45-65% of your daily calories come from carbs. On the keto diet however, 60-80% of your calories need to come from fat and only 5-10% come from carbs with the remaining (around 20-30%) coming from protein. The idea is that this breakdown keeps your body in a constant state of ketosis allowing it to depend on fat for energy rather than carbs essentially helping you to lose weight.
What is the Paleo Diet?
The Paleo diet is based on the assumption that our modern diet, which is full of trans fat and sugars as well as refined foods, is the reason for most of the health issues and diseases that we suffer from today. Eating “Paleo” means only eating the foods that we, as humans ate when we first began roaming the earth, which is why some refer to it as the “caveman diet.”
Early man had limited access to grains and greens and had to rely mostly on animal products for their energy sources. Therefore, on the paleo diet, you are to avoid processed foods altogether instead eating meats, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats.
How they are similar:
Although both diets have their own ideas and ways of accomplishing weight loss, they do have several things in common.
- Both cut out unhealthy foods
- They are both low carb-based diets (although Paleo does allow for more carbs than Keto)
- Both cut out grains, beans, and legumes
- Both include healthy proteins
- Both include non-starchy veggies
How they are different
While on the surface, both diets may seem very similar, there are a number of differences between the two that do make them each unique.
- Keto encourages moderate protein, high fat, and low carbs while Paleo encourages high protein, moderate fat, and lower carbs.
- Keto’s primary focus is on counting macronutrient percentages along with ketone and insulin levels while Paleo’s focus is on nutrient-dense foods and permeant lifestyle changes such as clean eating.
- Keto allows you to eat soy, dairy, trans fat, and some processed foods while Paleo completely eliminates all processed food, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, soy, and dairy (except for grass fed butter).
While both diets are strict in their own different ways, and both are successful as far as weight loss is concerned, ultimately, it is up to you to decide which diet is best suited for you and your lifestyle as a long-term weight loss solution.
Want to learn more about a Ketogenic lifestyle?! Join our the Ketogenic Diet (Recipes & Meal Prep) with great information for beginners and more.
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