Over recent years the Paleo diet has become a very popular way of eating. The Paleo diet is based on the principle that the human race should eat the way it used to before the discovery of grains, that is, the way our hunger-gatherer forefathers used to eat. The Paleo diet focuses on eating proteins, fruit and vegetables.

Another dietary approach that has been gaining prominence over the past few months is the low carb high fat diet. This dietary approach focuses on the consumption of proteins, vegetables and fats.

On the face these two diets appear to be almost the same, but are they really? Let's look at the similarities between these two diets:

1. Both of these diets encourage the consumption of meat, seafood and chicken.
2. Both of these diets allow followers to eat unlimited amounts of vegetables.
3. Both diets allow fruit.
4. Neither of the two diets allows their followers to drink alcohol.
5. Nuts are allowed on both diets.
6. Neither of the two diets allows the consumption of grains, such as cereals, rice or bread. They are both low carb diets. Carbs were not eaten by our hunter-gatherer forefathers and are therefore not considered essential for healthy living. Carbs will still be eaten in the form of low-GI vegetables and fruit.
7. Both diets allow followers to eat fat, which is in complete contradiction with the way most of us have been eating – low fat was always considered to be the way to go. The low carb high fat diet encourages followers to increase their fat consumption, especially the good fats. The low carb high fat diet is a high fat diet whereas the Paleo diet allows fat in moderate to high quantities, but also emphasizes the consumption of healthy fats.

What are the differences between these two dietary approaches? Let's see:

1. The Paleo diet does not allow the use of diary products while the low carb high fat diet does allow diary products. Although diary is allowed when following the low carb high fat diet, the level of consumption will have to be determined by the individual. If you use diary products and see that your weightloss has stalled, it may be a good idea to reduce your consumption thereof until you find the balancing point where the consumption thereof does not stall your weightloss.
2. Although both diets allow fruit, the paleo diet allows unlimited quantities thereof compared to the low carb high fat diet where fruit should be limited due to the high sugar content of some fruits.

So, overall these two are very similar, but there are differences.  The choice of the one you follow will probably be based on whether you believe you should consume diary products to be healthy. If so, the low carb high fat diet is the diet for you! If leaving diary out is ideal for you, then the Paleo Diet is the one you should follow!