The keto and paleo diets are both trending upward these days. Both diets can help people lose weight, and may offer a variety of other health benefits as well. These include improved heart health and reduced blood sugar levels. Like with most diets, either one of these will require some amount of discipline in order to achieve the best results. Thankfully, there are plenty of delicious recipes available to you, making these seemingly tough diets easier to stick to!
If you are considering either of these diets for yourself, it is important to know the differences between each of them. Read on to learn about paleo vs. keto so that you can make the best decision for yourself and your dietary needs.
Paleo Diet
The philosophy behind the paleo diet is that it simulates the diet of ancient humans. With the paleo diet, you are only eating the types of food that our bodies have evolved to eat, eliminating anything that came after humans started practicing agriculture. This is why you may sometimes hear it referred to as the “caveman diet.”
The paleo diet is centered around these foods: fruits, vegetables, nuts, and low-fat meats. The key items to avoid in the paleo diet are grains, legumes, dairy, salt, and any processed foods.
A common misconception about the paleo diet is that it calls for eating as much meat as possible. This is not true. While lean meats are an essential part of the diet, you will need to get a variety of everything in the diet to feel all its effects.
The main benefit to the paleo diet, when done right, is weight loss. But that is not all. The paleo diet can also help keep blood pressure and cholesterol down, as well as help to manage blood glucose levels. And, the strictly regimented eating habits that come with the paleo diet are also a great way to control how much you eat. This, in addition to weight management, can also help you to feel more consistent from day to day, rather than riding the ups and downs of each day depending on what, or how much, you’ve eaten.
Keto Diet
The keto diet is all about changing the way your body produces energy. With the keto diet, the idea is to eat a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. Doing this allows your body to switch from burning carbs for energy to burning fat for energy. In addition to burning fat, this also reduces the insulin levels in your body, which promotes the creation of ketones. Ketones are then used by the body for energy. The keto diet is named for the state of ketosis, which is achieved when the body is producing ketones.
Foods to focus on in the keto diet include high-fat and low-carb items like meat, eggs, cheese, low-starch vegetables, and nuts. Most fruits are off-limits to keto dieters, but berries are an exception if you don’t wish to cut fruit out entirely.
The keto diet is great for anyone who would not only like to lose weight, but also feel more energized. People often report feeling more energized and focused when their bodies enter ketosis, making this more than just a weight-loss regimen. It’s a way to overhaul your bodily nutrition! Of course, you should always consult with your doctor before undergoing any major dietary changes to make sure the diet is right for you and your health.
Now that you’ve compared the paleo vs. the keto diet, you can make a decision about your future dietary, weight loss, and wellness needs. If either of these diets appeal to you, be sure to follow Sugarless Crystals for tons of great recipes and tips to help guide you along your nutritional journey. Even if you decide not to follow either of these diets, there’s sure to be something there for you!