What is the Difference Between Keto & Paleo?

Keto and Paleo are two diets that have become incredibly popular in recent years.

Everywhere you look, someone is touting the idea of keto or Paleo, which begs the questions:

What is the difference between the two diets? More importantly, which of the two is better, and what are some of their unique benefits?

Today, we’ll go over everything you need to know about these two popular diets. Let’s dive in…

What Are The Keto and Paleo Diets?

Ketogenic dieting is relatively simple:

Cut out all carbs from your nutrition and aim to ingest fewer than fifty grams (twenty NET carbs) per day. All of the foods that don’t have carbs are allowed, regardless of their health status. The most notable advantage is that you can lose weight more easily thanks to the lower calorie intake and decreased hunger.

Paleo, while similar, has a different objective:

With this diet, the goal is to eat only foods a caveman would have had access to. If a caveman couldn’t eat it, you shouldn’t either. So, all processed foods are off-limits.

Like keto, this diet is beneficial for weight loss, and many people find themselves feeling full for longer after eating, which helps lower their caloric intake.

Weight Loss: Keto vs. Paleo (Who Wins?)

Let’s face it:

Most people go on a diet to lose weight. So, you might be wondering, “Well, which of the two is better for shedding pounds?”

There isn’t a clear answer here, as there are many factors to consider. In general, both diets work about the same for weight loss, and both have similar restriction levels.

There are thousands of case studies of people losing weight on either diet successfully. If you’re wondering which would be better for you, it’s worth experimenting to see. For example, give each diet at least four weeks of your time and see how you feel on it and what results you achieve.

Keto vs. Paleo: Which Of The Two Is Easier to Adopt?

This dieting aspect also depends on the individual, the severity of restriction, and how quickly the person wants to adopt all of the diet’s principles.

For example, if you want to transition to either of the two diets in a few days, you will find it difficult at first because we are creatures of habit, and we don’t do well with massive and sudden changes.

In contrast, taking a more gradual approach and slowly transitioning over a few weeks will make it much easier and more sustainable.

With that said, both diets are relatively similar in terms of sustainability. Keto has you cut out all carbs, which limits your food choices quite a bit. In contrast, paleo doesn’t restrict carbs, but you cannot eat anything processed, which also makes the diet restrictive.

Things to Consider When Choosing Keto or Paleo Dieting

Both diets can work well in the long run, and it mostly depends on your preferences. For example, if you don’t mind going without carbs, go for keto because you’ll likely enjoy it more.

In contrast, if you enjoy having carbs and don’t want to give them up, go for paleo instead.

In any case, successful dieting is about planning and tracking your nutrition. Using meal planning software is essential because it allows you to streamline your nutrition and put together a fantastic weekly menu.

Recipe software also works great for both diets, if this is something important for you.

The bottom line is this:

Both diets work well enough. What matters most is that you enjoy following the plan you prepare for yourself.