So what is the difference between Paleo vs Whole30?
Is there an advantage to doing one over the other? Is one better than the other for beginners? Is there one that will help you lose more weight, faster?
Whether you are new to fitness and healthy living or you have been around for awhile, you probably have heard the terms “paleo” and “whole30” being brought up pretty regularly (along with vegan, clean eating, IFFYM, carb cycling, calorie counting, etc). You have probably heard stories of people “going paleo” or “doing whole30” and losing weight in a month or two time. You may also hear claims like it cleared up my acne, reduced my bloating or gas, reduced or eliminated my eczema or other skin condition.
Paleo and whole30 have a lot of similarities, but overall are completely different. Let’s talk about some of the similarities first!
The Similarities Between Paleo vs Whole30:
- Focus on whole food nutrition – getting a majority of your nutrients from whole foods. Whole foods in this sense refers to food that has not been processed (or very limited in it’s processing). These foods look very similar to how they looked when grown or killed. For the most part this refers to a diet rich in: meat, seafood and eggs, vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds and fats and oils.
- Diet free of gluten, grains (oats, quinoa, corn, rice, buckwheat, etc), legumes (beans, peanuts), refined sugar, chemical artificial sweeteners, preservatives
- Avoiding processed, refined, nutrient poor foods
However Paleo and Whole30 do have some very distinct difference.
The Difference Between Paleo vs Whole30:
- Paleo eating is a long term lifestyle, while Whole30 is meant to be a reset for your system. The creators of Whole30 do not intend for people to eat this way year round. The Whole30 protocol is very restrictive, and it provides a guide on how to slowly add back in foods you removed while doing Whole30.
- Whole30 diet eliminates all the same foods as paleo but also includes limits on:
- Sugar in all forms, including honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar.
- Alcohol of any kind
- Strict list of food additives that should be avoided
- Whole30 also does not allow for “treat foods” to be incorporated. For example, you cannot make banana pancakes from mashed bananas and eggs even though both of these ingredients are technically Whole30 approved. Also commercially made chips and tortillas are also not Whole30 approved.
- Whole30 also has a strict “no scale” rule. Simply jumping on the scale during a Whole30 technically restarts your Whole30 journey.
- Paleo doesn’t have strict rules, if you eat something “not paleo”, you just keep on going with your day. However, if you eat something not compliant with Whole30, you technically ended your Whole30 at that point.
- Paleo also has flexibility in it’s implementation. If you discover that foods like rice or raw dairy don’t bother your digestive system, they can be added in. However, going off of the Whole30 list of approved foods will stop your Whole30 journey
- Whole30 has a very clear “reintroduction” plan at the end of the 30 days. This plan gives detailed instructions on how to add in foods you removed to be able to easily see if these foods cause you any inflammation or digestive issues. Paleo however does not have an end, since it is not a traditional diet. It also does not suggest you add things like gluten or grains back in at any time.
Paleo vs Whole30
When trying to decide if Paleo or Whole30 is right for you, it’s important to know yourself, as well as, what your goals are long term. Whole30 provides a very clear set of rules and a distinct timeline and can also help you eliminate that pesky sugar monster. However, it is much more strict than paleo and you can at times feel very limited in your food choices (especially if you are very busy and don’t cook often). Whole30 requires you to know the ingredients in everything you eat and does not provide for much spontaneity since most packaged foods are not Whole30 approved. If you’re looking to learn more about Whole30 I highly recommend The Whole30 by Melissa Hartwig (affiliate link).
What About You?
- Do you eat paleo?
- Have you tried Whole30?
- Tell me your favorite paleo or Whole30 food!
Wow! I’m very impressed with how you laid this all out. I always thought they were kinda the same thing. I did paleo for a while and really enjoyed it but I guess I didn’t research it as well as I thought. I found this post through the Sway Sharefest. Thanks for your perspective, I really enjoyed it 🙂
At some point, I would like to try both of these lifestyle “diets.” I’m certainly curious how they would have an effect on my body. Happy Fiesta Friday! – Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck – Colleen
I have tried Whole30 back in February 2017 and I loved the results – both losing weight and feeling good. I took a break and did it again sometime in March-May, although not continuously. This month, I am strictly following the Whole30 rules as long as possible. I don’t know, maybe it became a lifestyle. Paleo sounds cool, too. Atleast I can eat ‘healthy’ desserts.😁 Thanks for sharing and for joining Fiesta Friday party!