Paleo vs. Keto: What’s the Difference?

The Paleo Diet® and the keto diet are both popular ways to lose weight and get fit, but there’s a lot of confusion about what differentiates the two. Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between the keto diet and The Paleo Diet.

While there’s a fair amount of overlap between the foods allowed on the keto diet and The Paleo Diet (like veggies and meat) and what is not allowed (like grains, sugar, and processed foods), there are several nuances that separate them. More importantly, the goal of each diet is different.

The goal of keto is to eat less than 50 grams of carbohydrates each day in order to maintain a strict state of ketosis (and it’s usually a short-term goal at that). Research has shown that while a keto diet can be safe and effective in the short term, practicing a long-term keto diet can lead to negative side effects and even some serious deficits of key nutrients we need for good health. These long-term consequences have inspired many people to stop following the keto diet and try The Paleo Diet instead.

The Paleo Diet is a long-term lifestyle focused on eating the healthy foods we were designed to eat. You don’t have to count carbs or worry that eating the wrong fruit will kick you out of ketosis. Simply stick to healthy Paleo-approved foods just 85% of the time, and your body will experience its full benefits.

If you’re curious to learn more about how Paleo is different from keto, check out this infographic that breaks down the rules, benefits, and allowed foods in each diet.