If you hear about one more type of diet, just one more, you are going to start breaking things.

Seriously!

It’s bad enough that there are one thousand and one different kinds of supplements out there that it can push a person into multivitamin madness, but all of the different kinds of diets roaming around can push one over the edge.

You have the grapefruit diet. The crash diet. The Atkins diet. The Mediterranean diet. The detox diet. The vegetarian diet. The semi-vegetarian diet. . . .

Seriously!

Many people are calling it a day to just be on a See Food diet. They see food, and they eat it.

But we like to keep things pretty simple around here: Eat real food that isn’t processed, and let the chips fall where they may.

Because these seem to be in the spotlight, let’s (briefly) talk about the keto diet, paleo diet and primal diet, and what their differences are.

The Primal and Paleo Diets

Let’s talk about these two in one sitting, because they are basically the same thing. But modern man came along and made them into two separate things because … well … heck, we don’t know. Let’s not make rocket science out of simple science.

Primal, which is short for primeval, means of first importance – primary. It’s the first years of the world’s existence – the Genesis biblical era.

Paleo is short for Paleolithic. It’s how we humans lived in ancient times when we used tools and weapons made of stone. “Cavemen,” in another words.

The primal and paleo diets are basically the same, but here are the only real differences:

1. The primal diet includes raw, full-fat dairy as a source of healthy fats. The paleo diet restricts it.
2. The paleo diet eliminates nightshade vegetables. Like white potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. These are called “nightshade’ because these plants prefer shady areas. The primal diet doesn’t
3. The primal diet includes coffee. The paleo diet restricts it.

Foods included are:

• fruits and vegetables
• nuts and seeds
• raw or fermented dairy, like raw milk and cheese
• pure maple syrup and raw honey
• meat and fish, preferably grass-fed, cage-free and wild-caught

It’s the same as our ancient ancestors ate. Real, unprocessed food. Nothing complicated, right?

Okay, so what about the Keto (Ketogenic) Diet?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, very low-carbohydrate diet (generally 20 to 50 net carbs daily) that is used as both a lifestyle and a medical method diet.

It forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates.

Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fueling brain-function. However, if there is very little carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies.

The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. So healthy fats are needed to fuel the body.

As an example of this being used as a medical method, an elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as ketosis, leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures.

Foods included are:

• High-fat meat.
• Low-carb fruits and vegetables.
• Dairy (including yogurt and cheese and cottage cheese).
• Coconut oil and olive oil
• Nuts and seeds.
• Dark chocolate.

So Which One is Best?

As you can see, they are all good. But there is no size fits all here anyway, and we are not going to tell you what diet you should choose. You’re the captain of your health ship, and only you can set the course that is best for your own voyage.

But just keep common sense in check. Eat real food that isn’t processed. Watch your stress level. Keep it under control with Monday-morning traffic and irritating coworkers. Smile and laugh more. Keep friends close and enemies closer.

And, hey, maybe you’ll just live forever with a body you’ve always wanted.

Okay, almost.

_____________________________

Do you know someone who is about to lose it? Send them this article.

And if you haven’t done so lately, take a look at some of our alternative-health products and our Paleo-friendly products.

We all deserve to have more health options in our lives than just pharmaceutical drugs. Don’t we?

Let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Check out these posts for great Paleo recipes:

Paleo/Primal Crepe
Paleo Cranberry Orange Bread
Grain Free Pumpkin Granola
Paleo Holiday Recipes

Til next time.

From the staff of Nourishing World