Keto and Paleo Diets
What’s the Difference?
The keto and paleo diets are two dietary options that aim to boost health, eliminate highly
processed foods, and encourage weight loss.
The ketogenic (keto) diet focuses on eating a particular balance of macronutrients. The
goal is to enter a state of ketosis, where the body begins to burn fat for health or weight
loss.
The Paleolithic (paleo) diet focuses on eating foods that humans would’ve eaten in the
Stone Age. This goal is to eliminate moderate processed foods for health or weight loss.
Keto Diet
A keto diet is an eating plan that focuses on eating lots of healthful fat, and some protein,
and minimal carbohydrates. The body typically uses carbohydrates as a fuel for energy.
When a person does not get enough carbs, the body will start using a fat and some protein
stores. In true ketosis the liver will take stored fat and turn it into ketones which the body
then uses for energy. Reaching the state of ketosis is the goal of the keto diet.
In general a person on a keto diet should consume a proximally 70-80% fat, 20-25%
protein, and 5-10% carbohydrates. The keto diet encourages and excludes specific foods.
A person on a keto diet cannot get their carbohydrates from grains or legumes. Their carbs
must come from keto friendly vegetables such as the leafy greens or small group of fruits
primarily berries.
Paleo Diet
A paleo diet is a dietary plan at focuses on foods that humans ate during the Paleolithic era.
Some refer to it as the caveman diet or the Stone Age diet. This diet strives to eliminate
products made via moderate food processing and farming methods. People who follow the
paleo diet may choose foods that a Stone Age ancestor would have been able to hunt or
gather and eat. The diet of the Stone Age person would have varied according to the
natural resources available in their area. Some people believe that the human body is not
well adapted to modern day foods. According to supporters of this of the diet, cutting out
foods such as dairy, grains and legumes can help a person lose weight and prevent heart
disease and diabetes. A paleo diet excludes highly processed foods, as well as legumes,
grains, and dairy products. The paleo diet also encourages the consumption of healthful
fats, such as those from wild or grass fed animals, nut oils, butter, olive oil and avocados. It
also recommends that people eat higher amounts of animal protein. According to some
small short-term studies the paleo diet may have benefits for the metabolic syndrome and