Ketogenic and Paleolithic diets have become the talk of the town. According to the experts, both keto and paleo diets – as they are referred to in general – can assist an individual in turning weight loss resistance into weight loss results. The question, however, is still which diet to follow and what exactly the individual differences are.
Collective studies have been done by the England Journal of Medicine regarding the benefits of both diets. These studies have found that keto and paleo diets lead to lower blood pressure, lower sugar and insulin levels. Both these diets are regarded as scientifically based lifestyle changes, and not as a ‘quick-fix’ diet.
According to Olivia du Plessis, personal trainer and founder of LivFit gym in Paarl, “people should listen to their body, and must be honest in answering the question as to whether or not they can sustain whichever lifestyle change or diet they choose.”
Ketogenic diet:
The goal of this diet is to get your body to enter a metabolic state of ketosis in which the body burns fat for fuel. Keto is based on the high consumption of fat, moderate amounts of protein, and minimal carbohydrates. The body uses the fat as a source of energy and not the glucose given by carbohydrates.
A high fat keto breakfast. PHOTO: Instagram/ @ketocookingrecipes
Dr. Keith Gillaspy, a practicing chiropractor, who experimented with the keto diet and lost up to 36 kgs over a year and a half, communicates all the cardinal info regarding the keto diet on his YouTube Channel 2 Fit Docs
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdoYSgaAQpe4UW778jUAi0A).
Gillaspy explains that ketones are a by-product of fat metabolism and when you burn ketones for your primary fuel, your body enters a state of constant fat burning. Keto leads to a metabolic shift in the body which assists in combating epilepsy.
According to another American chiropractor, Dr. Nick Sudano, the success of a keto diet relies heavily on the measuring of the consumption of macro-elements. The consumption of fat must be 70-75% of your daily intake, 20% of your intake must consist of protein and a mere 5% or less of your daily intake should be carbohydrates.
Paleolithic diet:
This diet is also widely known as the caveman diet. Sudano explains that the paleo diet is based on the Paleolithic era where hunter-gatherers roamed the earth. Anthropologists and medical explorers realised that hunter-gatherer groups were largely free from modern degenerative diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart diseases.
The essence of paleo is to exclude process foods, refined sugars, and grains from your diet. The focus of this diet is food quality and density. When following the paleo diet, the body is either utilising carbohydrates (glucose) or ketones as its source of energy. Paleo allows an individual to live a healthy balanced life.
A very delicious paleo lunch, with no grains nor fatty foods. PHOTO: Instagram/ @Paleogrubs
Both paleo and keto fight inflammation in the gut which is beneficial to your health. However, according to Anel Kirsten, a practicing dietitian from Paarl, an individual’s genetic components are very important when considering these diets. Genes determine how our body reacts to macro-nutrients, and according to Kirsten certain diets are not ideal for people who genetically can’t handle a high-fat diet.