Eating Trendy: Keto vs Paleo

Are these two low-carb diets just fads or are they the real deal?

Whether you’re losing weight for aesthetics or for health, it’s no secret that your diet plays a large part in your journey. To help, here are two top-trending diet plans that might help you achieve your #bodygoals2020.

Ketogenic Diet

The Keto diet aims to reach a metabolic state of Ketosis where burning fat is the main source of energy by replacing your carbohydrate intake with fats. Several studies show that this is an efficient way to lose weight and lower risk factors for diseases such as diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Here’s a list of foods you can eat or avoid to aid in your meal planning!

Eat	Avoid
Avocados Butter and cream Cheese Eggs Fatty fish Low-carb vegetables Red meat Nuts and seeds	Alcohol Beans and legumes Fruits (except small portions of berries) Highly processed foods Grains and starches  Sugary foods Unhealthy fats

It is normal to struggle at the start with poor energy and mental function, increased hunger, digestive discomfort, nausea and sleep issues. Mitigate the impact of these temporary symptoms by starting off on a low-carb diet for the first few weeks to help your body adjust.

 

Paleolithic Diet

About 35 years ago, a theory arguing that we were genetically not made to adapt to the food of today birthed the Paleo diet. Several studies suggest that following this diet in eliminating processed foods would lower the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Here’s a list of foods you can eat or avoid to aid in your meal planning!

Eat	Avoid
Eggs Fish Fruits Healthy fats and oils Herbs and spices Meat Nuts and seeds Vegetables	Grains Beans and legumes Dairy products Processed foods Unhealthy fats and oils

New followers of this diet also risk seeing similar symptoms to that of new Keto diet followers due to the sudden absence of carbohydrates in their food intake. Additionally, the lack of dairy products generally means lower levels of Calcium and Vitamin D. 

 

What’s the difference?

As the focus of the Paleo diet is to simply eliminate processed foods, entering the state of Ketosis is only important to followers of the Keto diet. As such, the Keto diet is much higher in fat and requires calorie calculations.

Credit to Brooke Lark

Conclusion

Before you embark on this journey to a leaner body, remember that these dietary plans were not made as a “one size fits all” solution. Do your research and seek professional help if necessary!

The results of following either of the two diets also depend on your lifestyle choices. Pairing your diets with an active and healthy lifestyle would be great in helping you burn off some of that extra weight from the recent onslaught of festivities.