Keto Vs Paleo: Which Diet Helps Lose Weight Faster?

The keto and paleo diets are two popular dietary options that aim to boost health, eliminate highly processed foods, and encourage weight loss. Both diets are reduced-carb diets, but the main difference between them is the amount of carbs they allow. Paleo is low-carb, but keto is zero or near-zero carb. Both diets can help you lose weight, but depending on your goals and environment, one might be more effective than the other. Keto may help you lose weight faster, but it can be harder to stick to. Paleo, on the other hand, is easier to maintain, but might not cause you to lose weight as quickly.

The keto diet is harder to stick to, but may help you lose weight faster

The keto and paleo diets are both popular options for people looking to lose weight. While they share some similarities, there are also some key differences that can make one harder to stick to than the other.

The keto diet is a modern invention, first used to treat epilepsy in the 1920s. It involves putting your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. To achieve this, you need to eat a high-fat, low-carb diet, typically with 60-80% of your calories coming from fat and only 10% from carbohydrates. This can be challenging to stick to, as it requires a large shift in the types of food you eat, and you must be precise with your macronutrient intake to stay in ketosis.

The paleo diet, on the other hand, is based on the idea that we should eat like our ancestors from the Paleolithic era. This means eating mostly meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, and eliminating processed foods, grains, legumes, and dairy. Paleo is also a low-carb diet, but it is more flexible than keto, as it allows some natural sweeteners and starchy vegetables. This flexibility makes paleo easier to stick to than keto, as it is less restrictive and allows for more foods that people ordinarily eat.

While both diets can be challenging to maintain in the long term, keto is generally considered harder to stick to due to its strict requirements and the significant lifestyle changes it entails. However, keto may lead to faster weight loss, especially in the short term, as the state of ketosis can lead to efficient fat burning.

In conclusion, while the keto diet may help you lose weight faster, it is harder to adhere to than the paleo diet due to its strict rules and the need to monitor your macronutrient intake closely. Paleo, while potentially slower for weight loss, offers more flexibility and is generally considered a healthier, more sustainable option.

The paleo diet is more flexible and easier to maintain long-term

The paleo diet is based on the types of food that were consumed during the Paleolithic era, around 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago. It is believed that the human body is not well adapted to modern-day foods, and that cutting out dairy, grains, and legumes can help with weight loss and prevent heart disease and diabetes.

The paleo diet is more flexible than the keto diet, as it allows for more food groups and does not require a strict ratio of macronutrients. Paleo focuses on entire food groups to eat, such as meats, fruits and vegetables, and healthy fats, and those to avoid, like dairy, processed foods, and whole and refined grains.

The paleo diet is also more sustainable long-term, as it does not require the same level of precision as keto. For example, the keto diet requires a person to eat only between 20 to 30 grams of carbohydrates per day to maintain ketosis, which can be difficult to achieve and maintain. Paleo, on the other hand, does not require ketosis, so there is no need to weigh food or closely monitor carbohydrate intake.

The paleo diet is also considered healthier, as it is less restrictive and includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. It is also easier to maintain as it allows some carbs and a lot of foods that people ordinarily eat.

The keto diet is a modern invention, first used to treat epilepsy in the 1920s

The idea of using dietary changes to treat epilepsy is not new, however. Ancient Greek physicians, including Hippocrates, advocated for fasting as a treatment for epilepsy and other health problems. In the early 20th century, researchers in France and the US found that epilepsy patients who consumed low-calorie diets and fasted had fewer seizures. This inspired Dr. Wilder at the Mayo Clinic to develop the keto diet as a way to mimic the effects of fasting without the same harsh restrictions.

The classic keto diet, formulated by Dr. Wilder's colleague Dr. Peterman, consists of a 4:1 ratio of fat to protein and carbohydrates, with 90% of calories coming from fat, 6% from protein, and 4% from carbs. This diet was widely used in the 1920s and 1930s to treat epilepsy, particularly in children, and was found to be highly effective. However, with the introduction of anticonvulsant drugs, the diet fell out of favour and was largely forgotten by the 1990s.

It was brought back into the spotlight in 1994, when the father of a child with severe epilepsy promoted the diet on the TV show Dateline, and again in a TV film starring Meryl Streep. This led to a resurgence of scientific interest in the diet, and today it is once again offered as a treatment for epilepsy, particularly for patients who do not respond to drug treatments.

The paleo diet is based on what humans ate in the Paleolithic era, but is still a modern invention

The paleo diet is based on the types of foods humans ate during the Paleolithic era, which lasted from around 2.5 million years ago until about 10,000 years ago. This includes whole foods that early humans hunted and gathered, such as fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, lean meat, and fish. The diet was popularised by Loren Cordain, PhD, in his 2002 book, *The Paleo Diet*.

However, the paleo diet is still a modern invention. While it is based on the idea that eating like our ancestors promotes good health, it is not an exact replica of what people ate during the Paleolithic era. The term "paleo" itself comes from the word "Paleolithic", meaning Stone Age.

The paleo diet is sometimes referred to as the "caveman diet", but it is important to note that people living in the Paleolithic era ate whatever was available in their surroundings. For example, those surrounded by marine life ate fish, while those in tropical habitats ate a variety of plant and animal foods. Additionally, the agricultural revolution, which introduced grains, legumes, and dairy to the human diet, has been linked to the rise in chronic diseases in modern society.

The paleo diet focuses on high-protein and fibre-rich foods, with an emphasis on meat, fruits, and vegetables. It eliminates grains, legumes, processed sugar, and most sources of dairy. While it is a modern invention, the paleo diet is based on the principle that eating like early humans will promote optimal health and reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Both diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies

Both the keto and paleo diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies. While the paleo diet is less restrictive than keto, it still eliminates grains and legumes, which can lead to a lack of B vitamins, calcium, and vitamin D. The keto diet is even more restrictive, limiting carbohydrates to a maximum of 50 grams per day. This restriction can result in deficiencies in selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and C.

The keto diet's high-fat content can also lead to a deficiency in potassium, as animal and refined plant fats are devoid of this mineral. The diet's typical high sodium intake can further exacerbate this issue, as the body loses potassium when consuming excess salt.

Additionally, the keto diet's restriction of fruits and vegetables can cause a vitamin C deficiency. This is less of a concern with the paleo diet, which allows for more fruit and vegetable consumption.

The paleo diet's emphasis on meat can also be problematic, as studies have linked high red meat consumption to health risks such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and an increased risk of death.

Frequently asked questions