Best Diet Plans: Paleo Diet vs Whole 30 - Which is Better?

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The Paleo diet and the Whole 30 have been popular lately with people who want to lose weight. People tend to confuse the two diet plans with each other due to their similarities. However, the Paleo diet and the Whole 30 are different diet plans.  

The question of which plan is more effective is frequently asked since the two diets only have few differences. To better decide which diet plan is better, however, certain facts should be known first. 

According to Diets In Review, the Paleo Diet follows the eating habit of the cave men during the Stone Age. In the 1970's, the Paleo Diet was introduced to society by Walter L. Voegtlin in his book, titled "The Stone Age Diet."  

The Paleo diet suggests eating foods that cave men ate back in their time. Stupid Easy Paleo explains that it focuses on "real, whole, minimally processed foods." The site adds that the main foods allowed in the Paleo diet are meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats.  

Meanwhile, the Whole 30 seems to be a stricter version of the Paleo diet, which started in April 2009, reports Diets in Review. With this diet, people are required to eat nothing but the prescribed foods for 30 days straight to cleanse and heal the body. 

 If a person cheats during the 30-day period, the diet starts back at day one, reports Celebrity Health Fitness. According to the diet's creator Melissa Hartwig, "You need such a small amount of any of these inflammatory foods to break the healing cycle." 

During the 30 days, stepping on a scale or taking body measurements are not allowed, says Diet In Reviews. With the Whole 30, people are advised to eat real food like with the Paleo diet. 

However, unlike the Paleo diet which allows for refined sugar, foods with added sugar are prohibited in the Whole 30 diet, explains Diets in Review. In addition, the Whole 30 warns against "recreating favorite baked foods or junk foods" made with healthier ingredients, unlike the Paleo diet.  

Even with the slight differences, both diets are "based on resolving health problems, not losing weight," reports Diets in Review. Moreover, following either the Paleo diet or the Whole 30 can result in some weight loss.  

As for which is the better diet, it seems that for people who want to follow a more flexible diet plan, the Paleo diet is the best choice. While people who have the discipline for a stricter diet plan and want to lose weight a little faster could try the Whole 30.