The Paleo and Keto diets are two of the most popular plans today. But which one makes sense for you to try?
Let’s compare and contrast these two plans so that you can choose the one that is best for you.
Both are Grain Free
Both Paleo and Keto diets are grain-free. That means that you will not eat wheat, barley, corn, quinoa, spelt, or any other grain. This can make a huge difference in the way you eat.
This can be the toughest part of making the transition to these plans especially if you tend to eat a lot of bread, pasta, and cereals.
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Paleo is Legume Free, Keto is Low in Legumes
Legumes, the food group that contains beans, are also eliminated in the Paleo diet. That means you’ll no longer eat beans, peanuts, peas, chickpeas, lentils and other legumes. This is not always true for the keto diet.
With the keto plan, you’ll eliminate many legumes because of their high carbohydrate content. However, you may continue to eat peanuts and peanut products as well as oils derived from legumes.
Dairy Differences
The Paleo diet strictly eliminates dairy products initially. Some people do end up eating grass-fed dairy products that are fermented such as yogurt and kefir. When it comes to keto, dairy is not off-limits. In fact, dairy can be a great source of fat and low-carbohydrate foods.
While someone on keto is not likely to drink milk, they may eat full fat Greek yogurt, cheese, butter, cream and sour cream.
Carbohydrate Contrasts
Paleo is naturally lower in carbohydrates, but you’ll still consume carbs in the form of fruits, starchy vegetables, nuts, and seeds. For most people, following the Paleo plan doesn’t require counting carbohydrates.
The keto plan, on the other hand, is highly focused on being very low in carbohydrates. That means you’ll avoid eating fruit other than berries. You’ll also strictly limit starchy vegetables and any foods that contain carbohydrates. You’ll definitely count carbohydrates and try to keep them minimal.
The Fat Factor
One of the key things that sets keto apart from other plans is fat. In the keto diet you’ll focus on eating a large percentage of your calories from fat. That fat can be animal fat or fats derived from fruits and vegetables.
You’ll find that that while the Paleo diet encourages eating some fats, it doesn’t focus on fat in the way that keto does.
