Paleo vs Keto: What’s the Difference?

Two rival diets that have dominated the past decade are paleo and keto. With their focus on whole foods, animal protein, and the exclusion of grains and legumes, they look similar at first. But when you get to know them better, you’ll see that keto and paleo have just as many differences.

If you’re thinking about starting one or the other, you’ll need to know more about each one. You’re likely also dying to know which is better: paleo or keto and in what way?

Below is a comprehensive comparison of keto and paleo. We talk about what each diet is about, their histories, and their goals. We also offer tips on choosing between the two and the possibility of combining both approaches to get the best of both worlds.

The Paleolithic (paleo) diet, also known as the caveman diet or stone-age diet, is a way of eating based on foods that people supposedly ate in the Stone Age era that ended some 12,000 years ago. Examples of foods that followers of this diet eat include:

• Grass-fed and game meat
• Wild-caught fish and seafood
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Fruits and vegetables
• Nuts and seeds
• Mushrooms
• Unrefined oils
• Herbs and spices
• Honey

On the other hand, paleo followers will typically avoid:

• Dairy
• All grains
• All legumes
• Added sugar
• Seed and refined oils

However, proponents frequently disagree on what food is paleo. For example, some consider potatoes unpaleo, while others don’t mind enjoying them as a side dish to their game meat and other paleo favorites. Anthropologists also claim that the diets of our ancestors were likely more plant-based than we think and that they ate barley and legumes 2, which contradicts some popular paleo claims. Nonetheless, the paleo diet has many advantages and benefits (more on that later). Nonetheless, what’s sure is that paleo’s focus is on minimally processed foods.

So, how did the concept of paleo eating come about?

In 1975, Dr. Walter L. Voegtlin, a gastroenterologist, published, Stone Age Diet: Based on In-Depth Studies on Human Ecology and the Diet of Man 1, which was the first time the concept of eating like cavemen was introduced. But it was in 2002 with the publishing of, The Paleo Diet: Lose Weight and Get Healthy by Eating the Foods You Were Designed to Eat by Loren Cordain that paleo’s popularity skyrocketed 2.

And what is the argument for eating this way?

A 1985 article published in the New England Journal of Medicine explains that 12,000 years of evolutions is too little time for us to adapt to the huge dietary changes brought about by agriculture and industrialization 3. In other words, we are genetically programmed to eat like our ancestors. Our modern diet is simply not compatible with our genetic makeup, leading to an ongoing rise in obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer rates.

As far as health benefits go, the paleo diet can provide the following 2, 4:

• Quality nutrition: the paleo diet is higher in fiber, lower in refined carbs, rich in key nutrients, and overall better compared to “standard” diets.
• Better health: paleo eaters were found to live longer, have less oxidative stress, and a reduced risk of cancer (especially colon cancer).
• Improved metabolic health: the paleo diet helps people lose weight, lower triglyceride levels, and improve insulin sensitivity. This is likely due to the diet’s composition.
• Cardiovascular protection: paleo can also improve your blood lipid panel, reduce circulating glucose, lower blood pressure, and reduce other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.

Most of these benefits likely come from the balanced composition of the diet: rich in satiating protein, glucose-balancing fiber, nutritious veggies, healthy fats from nuts and seeds, and the exclusion of highly-processed empty calories. The quality of the food people eat on paleo is likely another contributing factor.

Some examples of paleo recipes:

• One-pan summer eggs — A simple and quick meal made with easy-to-find paleo staples, namely eggs, veggies, herbs, and olive oil.
• Pumpkin chili — Beans and other legumes are off limits on paleo, so this recipe uses pumpkin instead. The flavors are perfect for fall!
• Easy sweet and sour pork chops — Tender chops with a shiny and oh-so-tasty glaze. What more can you ask for after a long work day?
• Paleo and vegan chocolate pudding — This dairy-free dessert is not only paleo, but great if you’re on a plant-based diet. Goes to show dessert can be paleo, too.
• Spicy tuna and tomato burgers — This is a fantastic meal prep and lunch option. It’s ready in a couple of minutes and will help you add omega-3s to your diet.

The ketogenic (keto) diet is a low-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein diet. It was originally designed as an epilepsy treatment in the 1920s 5. However, in the past couple of years, many have started using keto to lose weight or improve blood sugar levels.

The main goal of the keto diet is ketosis, a metabolic state different from your usual metabolic state of glycolysis. During glycolysis, your cells burn glucose to make energy; but during ketosis, they burn fat to make ketones 6. In other words, your body switches from burning sugar to mainly burning fat, to put it simply.

And while ketosis is different from your usual state of sugar burning, it is completely natural. Our bodies are in a mild state of ketosis after an overnight fast or after we skip meals 6. Ketosis was designed to help us survive times of starvation and food scarcity, and there are even health advantages to it.

But how does keto manage to put us in this metabolic state?

The researchers that first designed the keto diet noticed that restricting carbs does the same as fasting – put the body in ketosis. Carb restriction needs to be drastic for this to happen, though, while fat becomes the main source of fuel (and ketones). In general, the ketogenic diet’s main focus is on macronutrient distribution:

• 5-10% carbs
• 15-30% protein
• 60-75% fat

The best way to achieve this macronutrient ratio is to limit certain foods while basing your meals around others. For example, keto diet staples often include:

• Fatty cuts of meat
• Oily fish
• Eggs and dairy
• Avocados and berries
• Nuts and seeds
• Oils and fats
• Dark chocolate
• Low-carb and non-starchy veggies

On the other hand, you are more likely to limit your carb intake by avoiding the following foods:

• All grains
• Legumes
• Most fruit
• Starchy vegetables
• Sugar, honey, maple syrup

The keto diet also allows for certain supplements, sweeteners, and processed ingredients. Popular examples include MCT oil, exogenous ketones, stevia, and packaged keto foods.

Researchers have extensively studied the keto diet since the 1920s, and many have found that it provides benefits beyond seizure control. According to a 2014 review article, there is strong evidence keto can help with 7:

• Diabetes: by reducing blood glucose and insulin levels, improving mitochondrial health, and reversing insulin resistance in the liver.
• Weight loss: keto curbs appetite and fat accumulation. It also increases fat burning and causes your body to burn more calories.
• Cardiovascular health: keto increases the size of LDL particles, reduces the activity of a cholesterol precursor, and lowers triglycerides.

Keto is also promising for:

• Acne: by reducing insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) action in the skin.
• Cancer: by depriving cancer cells of their favorite fuel: glucose. And also by lowering insulin levels.
• PCOS: by lowering both IGF-1 and insulin levels.
• Neurological conditions: keto increases the number and mass of mitochondria in the brain. It also reduces oxidative stress, boosts energy production in the brain, and increases the synthesis of omega-3s.

Some examples of keto recipes:

• Keto bagels — No, you don’t need to forget about bagels on keto. You just need to make them low-carb with the right ingredients, like in this recipe.
• Carrot ginger soup with cabbage noodles — Keto does not have to always be bacon and butter. There are plenty vegetable-based recipes such as this one that prove keto can be well-balanced.
• Easy chicken piccata — This is a simple dinner recipe that goes well with zoodles, cauliflower rice, and your favorite load of keto bread.
• Keto coffee cake — Another recipe showcasing how anything can be made keto. It’s made with a keto baking mix, almond milk, butter, eggs, and other keto staples.
• Keto dairy free matcha latte — An antioxidants-rich beverage that requires only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes.

Maybe you’ve noticed that the paleo diet and keto are often mentioned in the same context. That’s because they have a lot in common, and here’s what they share:

The paleo diet is based on whole foods, while most keto proponents will tell you that whole foods are best. Grass-fed meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and unrefined oils are staples of both diets.

Grains such as wheat, barley, oats, and rice are not eaten on either diet. Similarly, beans, peas, chickpeas, and lentils are also a no-no. However, the reasons for their exclusion differ between the diets. Keto excludes grains and legumes because they are high in carbs. Paleo, on the other hand, excludes them because they’re not considered part of Paleolithic nutrition.

Both diets allow for non-starchy veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, kale, asparagus, and tomatoes, for example. The keto diet allows them because they’re low in carbs and a great source of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants 8. These veggies are also considered compatible with our genes on paleo.

The keto diet is by definition a low-carb diet. Paleo is not purposefully low in carbs, but it ends up being that way because grains, legumes, and added sugar are excluded. This is also the main reason both eating plans are great for glycemic control and weight loss.

Animal foods are major sources of protein on paleo and keto. Red meat, pork, poultry, fish, and eggs are some important sources of essential amino acids on both diets. However, paleo emphasizes lean meats, while keto dieters aim for fattier cuts.

Nuts and seeds provide plant protein as well as fiber, healthy fats, and other nutrients 9. Products made from nuts and seeds like peanut butter, almond flour, tahini, and coconut flour are important staples and ingredient replacements on both diets.

As said, there are as many (if not more) differences between paleo vs low-carb and keto diets as there are similarities. Knowing these differences can help you understand the purpose of each diet better, and make your choice easier. So what is the difference between keto and paleo?

The main difference between paleo and keto is where their focus lies. The quality of food and how it is compatible with our genetics is what matters on paleo. On keto, it’s the macronutrient distribution of meals that’s most important.

Another important difference has to do with ketosis.

Does paleo put you in ketosis? Not really. But ketosis is what you’ll likely be in if you follow the keto diet correctly. In fact, you absolutely need to reach ketosis for the ketogenic diet to help with weight loss and glycemic control. The paleo diet does not require this since its mechanisms of action are different.

The paleo and keto diet also differ in which foods are allowed or best to avoid. Milk, cheese, and yogurt came with agriculture and farming, and that’s why you won’t see dairy on a paleo diet. But on keto, dairy is a staple item. Butter, sour cream, aged cheese, and other high-fat products are best. Milk is a bit higher in sugar (lactose), so most keto dieters avoid it.

There are even differences in how dieters sweeten their meals on paleo vs keto. Honey, maple syrup, and agave syrup are examples of sweeteners you can use on a paleo eating plan. But on keto, you should only go for non-nutritive or low-carb sweeteners like stevia, erythritol, xylitol, and similar.

You now know about the major differences and commonalities of keto vs paleo. But how do you choose between the two?

The keto diet is lauded for its ability to burn fat and shed weight, which could mean this approach is better if you want to lose a lot of weight.

But can you lose weight on paleo? And what about paleo vs keto for inflammation or keto vs paleo for bodybuilding? Both the keto diet and paleo can offer similar benefits. One systematic review and meta-analysis found that paleo worked against metabolic syndrome, and with it excess weight 10.

However, losing weight will probably be easier for you on a keto diet if you’ve had problems with appetite and portion control in the past. Ketogenic diets suppress appetite, and this is directly the effect of ketones 11. They also affect your metabolism in a way not seen with other diets. But paleo may be better as a long-term strategy that’s easier to follow.

The paleo diet can be better if you’re an athlete or bodybuilder since it is higher in protein and allows for more carbs. Both diets can reduce inflammation thanks to their favorable effects on insulin and the quality of nutrition they provide 12, 13.

Here a couple of other points to consider when making your picks:

• Paleo if you don’t want to measure and keep track of nutrient intake
• Keto if you want quick weight loss.
• Paleo if you’re a believer in clean eating and whole foods.
• Keto if you want to train your body to burn fat effectively.
• Keto if you want to improve brain function and reverse insulin resistance.
• Paleo if you’re highly active and a bodybuilder.
• Paleo if you want more variety.
• Keto if you’re a huge fan of fatty food like butter, bacon, and avocados.

Still can’t decide? Why not have the best of both worlds, right?

Some people follow what’s known as the “paleolithic ketogenic diet.” It’s essentially a keto diet with some paleo features, like focus on healthy oils, unprocessed foods, and above-ground veggies. On this approach, you should go for quality cuts of grass-fed meat and eat pasture-raised eggs. Eat as many nuts and seeds as you like and avoid dairy since it’s not paleo.

Some consider this approach to be too restrictive since it applies paleo restriction to an already restrictive diet. But with plenty of practice and a wealth of knowledge on food, you can make this approach work for you.

All in all, both paleo and keto have a host of benefits to offer. Both can help you lose weight and improve overall health. Both diets can help you eat more nutrient-dense and unprocessed foods. Where they differ is in the details: keto puts you in ketosis, paleo not; keto strongly suppresses appetite, paleo less, and keto requires detailed work, while you don’t have to sweat it with paleo.

• The keto diet and paleo diet are two of the most popular eating plans of the past decade.
• Both focus on whole foods and exclude similar ingredients.
• However, keto is designed to be a low-carb diet, while paleo may or may not be low-carb depending on how you eat.
• The keto diet changes your body’s way of using macros for energy, while paleo is said to improve your overall nutrition to be better suited for your genes.