Paleolithic Diet vs Ketogenic Diet

Total Rating
6.0
out of 10
5.5
out of 10
Metabolic Health
7
Moderately improves blood sugar, lipid profiles, and inflammation but shows mixed long-term effects on metabolic flexibility and cardiometabolic risk.
7
Improves insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles in some populations but may elevate inflammatory markers and LDL in others.
Micronutrients
4
Lacks essential vitamins like B12 and D, and critical minerals like iodine without supplementation.
5
Risks deficiencies in B12, iodine, and vitamin D without supplementation, despite adequate coverage of other micronutrients.
Nutrient Density
7
Provides high nutrient density from animal sources but lacks plant-based phytonutrient diversity.
5
Limited phytonutrient diversity and reliance on calorie-dense, nutrient-poor animal products reduce per-calorie nutrient efficiency.
Overall Health
6
Offers potential benefits for metabolic markers but risks nutrient deficiencies and lacks robust evidence for long-term disease prevention.
5
Offers short-term metabolic benefits but risks nutrient deficiencies and long-term health complications.
Sustainability
5
Limited flexibility and strict food restrictions may hinder long-term adherence and practicality for most individuals.
5
Requires strict dietary restrictions, complex planning, and long-term adherence challenges that limit practical sustainability.
Lifestyle Fit
5
Limited flexibility in social settings and travel makes long-term adherence challenging.
4
Requires strict dietary restrictions that limit social flexibility, travel adaptability, and daily convenience, increasing stress and reducing long-term adherence potential.
Practicality
6
It requires significant cost, planning, and preparation effort compared to more accessible dietary patterns.
6
Requires significant planning, cost, and food restrictions, limiting long-term practicality for most.
Appetite Control
7
Provides moderate satiety through protein and fat but may lack fiber and risk overeating due to energy-dense foods.
7
Provides satiety through fat and protein but may lack fiber and risk overeating if not managed.
Fat Quality
8
Includes omega-3s from fish and avoids trans fats, but may have higher saturated fat intake from animal sources.
6
Provides adequate saturated and some unsaturated fats but may lack sufficient omega-3s and risk imbalanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratios.
Fiber Intake
6
Provides moderate fiber from plant foods but lacks diversity and may fall short of optimal intake due to exclusion of grains and legumes.
4
Provides minimal fiber from limited sources, risking digestive issues and poor gut health.
Gut Health
5
Limited fiber and prebiotic diversity, excludes fermented foods, and may cause digestive discomfort due to low plant-based content.
3
Severely restricts dietary fiber and plant-based diversity, likely impairing microbiome diversity and increasing digestive discomfort risks.
Hormonal Support
7
Provides balanced macronutrients and micronutrients but lacks robust evidence for specific hormonal outcomes.
6
May improve insulin stability but risks cortisol elevation, thyroid suppression, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Macro Balance
6
Provides moderate protein and healthy fats but lacks adaptability and may restrict carbohydrates unnecessarily.
6
Provides structured macronutrient ratios but risks metabolic rigidity and long-term adherence challenges.
Protein Quality
8
Provides high-quality animal proteins with complete amino acids and good digestibility, but may lack optimal distribution and nutrient density compared to balanced modern diets.
7
Provides adequate high-quality protein from animal sources but risks insufficiency if intake is not carefully managed.
Taste
7
Offers rich, varied flavors with high satiety, though strict adherence may limit some culinary diversity.
7
Offers flavorful and satisfying meals with variety but may require effort to avoid monotony.
Body Composition
7
Promotes fat loss with adequate protein but risks muscle loss under restrictive conditions.
7
Promotes fat loss while preserving lean mass when protein adequacy is ensured, but risks muscle loss and training performance challenges with strict adherence.
Energy Balance
6
Offers moderate satiety from protein and fiber but lacks structured calorie control and flexibility for precise energy management.
7
Offers structured satiety through high fat/protein but requires strict adherence and may lack flexibility for calorie surplus goals.
Lean Mass
7
Provides adequate protein but limited evidence on lean mass preservation during caloric restriction.
7
Preserves lean mass when protein intake is adequate but risks muscle loss if protein is insufficient.
Athletic Support
5
Limited carbohydrate intake may hinder high-intensity performance and glycogen replenishment, though adequate protein and fats support muscle repair and hormone production.
5
Limited carbohydrate availability may hinder high-intensity performance and recovery, but can support specific endurance athletes with careful planning.
Weight Loss
7
Promotes moderate weight loss through satiety and protein intake but faces sustainability challenges and limited long-term evidence.
7
Provides moderate short-term weight loss but faces sustainability and metabolic adaptation challenges.

To discover how we evaluate diets based on Overall Health, Nutrient Density, Practicality, Taste, and other critical parameters, Explore Our Comprehensive Ranking System and detailed methodology. This will help you make informed decisions tailored to your specific goals and needs.