Ketogenic vs. Paleo Diets: What Are the Major Differences?

Both ketogenic diets and paleo diets are classified as “low carb” diets, leading many in the public to believe the diets are the same. And although there are similarities between the two protocols, keto and paleo are actually very different styles of eating.

In this post, we will evaluate the common ground between keto and paleo, and also guide you through key differences, including which foods qualify as keto and which qualify as paleo.

From 10,000 feet, the ketogenic diet has as its goal reaching a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates for fuel, whereas the paleo diet is designed as a tool for eliminating foods that many people with chronic gut issues find difficult to digest.

Paleo diets for beginners

The Paleo diet was designed by a gastroenterologist in the 1970s but didn’t become popular until the last decade. 

However, it is worth noting that as humans occupied different regions of the world, different foods were consumed, including grains and beans, so those regions may be more accustomed to digesting grains and beans than others. Although the diet may have value for some people, the “ancestral” roots of the Paleo diet have largely been debunked.

Recently, the Paleo diet was adopted by individuals looking for a healthier lifestyle overall.  Most followed the philosophy that “if a caveman didn’t eat it, then neither should we”.  The Paleo diet focuses on high quality foods, as close to the natural source as possible, just like the original hunters and gatherers.

Foods to include on the Paleo diet:

• Eggs
• Fish
• Poultry
• Meat
• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Healthy Fats
• Honey or Maple syrup in moderation

Foods to avoid on the Paleo diet:

• All grains
• All beans and legumes
• Soy
• Corn
• Dairy and dairy products
• Processed foods
• Processed meats (deli meat)
• Processed sugar and sweeteners

A Paleo diet typically has the following macronutrient breakdown in percent of total calorie intake per day:

• Protein: 40%
• Fat: 35%
• Carbohydrates: 25%

However, this ratio can change depending on a person’s goals and activity level.

Often, those that follow the Paleo diet are not as strict and openly accept all paleo-friendly foods even if these are higher carbohydrate or packaged.

Scientific Evidence for the Paleo diet

Because Paleo diets are still relatively new, there are not substantial clinical trials evaluating efficacy, but some current small scale studies have shown promising results.

For more on the Paleo diet, see my post on the autoimmune paleo diet protocol.

Paleo diet for weight loss

The Paleo diet is a food quality focused eating plan that eliminates highly processed foods that can contribute to unintentional weight gain. By eliminating these processed foods, weight loss is likely.

A study with 70 women who followed the Paleo diet for 2 years were monitored.  At 6 months the group saw a significant reduction in belly fat and lost on average about 14 pounds.

Paleo diet and heart disease

A 2015 clinical study found that the Paleo diet may even reduce heart disease risk.  Following a Paleo nutrition plan helped in the management of high cholesterol levels in adults whose levels did not improve after following more common heart health diets.

Paleo diet and diabetes

A small study, published in the Journal Nature, was conducted on individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study compared the health outcomes of participants consuming a Paleo diet vs participants consuming diet based on recommendations by the American Diabetes Association.

Improved metabolic measures were identified in both groups.  However, those following the Paleo diet had greater improvement on glucose control and lipid profiles.  Also, those consuming a Paleo diet showed a significant improvement with insulin sensitivity while those on the ADA recommended diet did not.

Ketogenic diets for beginners

The ketogenic diet is characterized as a low carbohydrate and high fat diet.

Similar low carbohydrate diets have popped up frequently in the last few decades as a weight loss strategy.  However, the ketogenic diet re-emerged as a popular diet to help with blood sugar balance and weight loss over the last several years.

Internet keto

The keto diet is often misunderstood and therefore many variations are often followed.  As a dietitian, I have many people ask me about following a Ketogenic diet or come to me while already following what I like to call ‘internet keto’.  This is a version of a Keto diet that is very high in both protein and fat and little to no vegetables are consumed.  Think eating steak with cream sauce frequently. In my experience, the internet keto style of eating is often quite unhealthy.

There are several ways to consume a keto diet.  I prefer the version that is more plant focused rather than dairy and animal based.  A true ketogenic diet is high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrate.  This diet should have the macronutrient ratios as follows:

• Fat: 70%
• Protein: 20-30%
• Carbohydrate: 5-10%
  • Typically less than 25 net grams per day

Foods to include on a ketogenic diet:

• Eggs
• Fish
• Meat
• Poultry
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Avocado
• Olives
• Coconut products
• Oils: olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, ghee
• Leafy greens
• Non-strachy vegetables

Foods to avoid on a ketogenic diet:

• Sugars/Sweeteners
• Starchy vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash
• Corn
• All grains
• Fruit  (Berries may be included in small quantities)

Some individuals may notice flu-like symptoms at the beginning of their ketogenic diet journey (typically 2-7 days after starting) as your body transitions from carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism.  The coined term ‘keto-flu’ refers to fatigue, headache, nausea, difficulty sleeping, and constipation that some people experience. While there is no scientific evidence on why this occurs in some individuals, plenty of people do report symptoms.  It may partly be attributed to lack of foods high in salt, sugar, and carbohydrates which can effect electrolyte balance.  When following a ketogenic diet, it is essential to include an electrolyte replacement daily to balance electrolytes and reduce possible symptoms.

The Ketogenic diet has been extensively studied in it’s benefits in weight loss, blood sugar reduction, epilepsy, and more.

Scientific evidence for keto diets:

Ketogenic diets are popular, but how much evidence do we have that they are sustainable and safe?

Keto and cholesterol

A study involving 66 healthy, obese patients with high cholesterol explored a ketogenic diets effects on their health outcomes.  These participants were followed for 56 weeks.

Overall, the study found that total body weight and BMI decreased significantly, as did the level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose level and HDL cholesterol increased significantly.  Therefore, the study concluded that the ketogenic diet and low carbohydrate diets may be safe to use for a longer period of time in obese individuals with elevated cholesterol, and did not worsen cholesterol levels.

The key here is to work with a physician and measure for markers of heart health, such as LDL-C, before and after going on a ketogenic diet. In some people, a high fat diet will push their cardiovascular biomarkers to unhealthy levels. One 2019 study found that a high fat diet increased LDL-C, on average, by 44%.

See also: 5 Signs a ketogenic diet isn’t working for you

Keto weight status and type 2 Diabetes

A 2019 study found that implementing a ketogenic diet in those with Type 2 Diabetes substantially reduces the glycemic response that results from high carbohydrate diets and improves insulin resistance.

Multiple other studies have linked obesity with other health outcomes such as diabetes.  A clinical trial with 349 individuals explored the effects of nutritional ketosis on weight status, Type 2 Diabetes and insulin sensitivity as well as other health markers.  The study found that after following a ketogenic diet for 2 years, participants saw long-term benefits with multiple clinical markers.  This included on average a 10% weight loss, improvement of blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, decrease in medication use, and even resolution of diabetes and obesity in some participants.

A study from BMC nutrition, that Kristin highlighted in her blog DNA Diets vs. Keto Diets for Weight Loss, found that, after an 18 month follow up, a personally tailored DNA diet protocol was far more effective for sustained weight loss than was a ketogenic diet.

Keto and neurological health 

Because of the success of the ketogenic diet with epileptic seizures, it’s also been used for other neurological disorders.  A small study of 47 participants with Parkinson’s Disease were randomized to either a ketogenic diet or low-fat diet.  The participants were monitored for 8 weeks.  The study found that those following a ketogenic diet saw a greater decrease in symptoms related to Parkinson’s disease compared to the low-fat group.

Research still needs to be conducted on health outcomes in individuals who follow a ketogenic diet long term.

Similarities and Differences between Keto and Paleo

The Paleo and Ketogenic diets share many main similarities that allow people to confuse the two diets, however, the differences between them are significant.

Similarities:

• Both diets limit processed sugar.
• Both diets prioritize healthy fat consumption such as avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds to help with satiety, brain health, and nutrient absorption.
• Both also eliminate whole food groups to accomplish specific health outcomes.
• Both diets emphasize moderate protein intake.
• Both Ketogenic and Paleo diets can be hard to sustain for long periods of time given the restrictive nature.
• Both diets can help regulate blood sugar level, improve weight status, improve insulin sensitivity, and symptoms related to disease states.

Differences:

• The main difference between the Paleo and Keto diets are the macronutrient ratios. A ketogenic diet requires about 70% of total calories to come from fat, and the Paleo diet is much more moderate at around 35%.
• The ketogenic diet is extremely low carbohydrate at only 25 net grams or about 5-10% of your daily calories.  Paleo diets can be much higher in carbohydrates especially if following a modified version with Paleo treats and desserts.
• To gain the full benefit of the ketogenic diet, the individual must be in nutritional ketosis and adhering to the diet strictly.  To gain the health benefits of the Paleo diet, the individual can be much more relaxed.
• While the paleo diet does allow some nutritive sweeteners like dates, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and honey the Keto diet does not allow any high carbohydrate sweeteners.
• The Paleo diet focuses on high quality foods such as grass-fed, organic, wild caught; and the Keto diet does not emphasize quality, but includes any form of the allowed foods.

Here is an easy guide to remember the differences in foods to consume between the two popular diets:

The Paleo and Ketogenic diet both offer health benefits.  However, some research has found that excluding whole food groups for extended periods of time can lead to nutrient deficiencies in some individuals and even microbiome changes in the gut.  I recommend working with a qualified provider to assess which diet is best for you and your health.

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