What is the difference between the paleo and primal diets? page

[tomewer]

I thought that the Paleo diet was part of Primal Living, but I am reading Mark's book, and he says that "the Paleo diet is probably as close to the Primal Blueprint as anything" (paraphrasing).

What are the differences?

[Primal Fist]

The Paleo diet in its original form, and in the form most people would recognise, just means eating more like our paleolithic ancestors and ditching neolithic foods such as bread and pasta and butterscotch pecan lattices. The Primal Blueprint is a little more open-minded about things like cheese and the like, but I'd say the main difference is that the PB has a lot more to it than just the food - though that is the main part of it.

[DFH]

Paleo is a generic term. Anyone can write a book on how to live Paleo.

Mark was clever. He "branded" his version of Paleo as Primal Blueprint. It's "Paleo according to Mark."

[Dr. Bork Bork]

the biggest difference: dairy & sugar. Check out Whole 30 & compare it to Primal dogma. You'll see the differences pretty quickly. W30 is, to me, Paleo escalated to a religious standard of excellence that we should all aim for.

[davem]

But I like lattices. ( and dislike autocorrect)

I think people may have more of a reaction to paleo v. Primal as well, sine paleo denotes anachronism, and primal does not.

I feel secure saying the you cannot have a paleo diet these days, but you can live primally and attempt to eat as paleo as possible. It's a fine bit of distinction but important in my opinion.

[Primal Fist]

Yeah, I totally have a thing for lattices. Screw the cave-propaganda!

[TARNIP]

From the books I have read, Paleo tends to be lean meats, low fat, no dairy

[pizzmor]

I think there are many flavors of lifestyle/diets that are based in paleo but have subtle changes built in, but I think the main thing they all share is low glycemic foods, clean food, etc. Some paleo is low fat, some isn't....some is no dairy, some say a little is ok. Primal is not just diet centric though, and to understand what makes Primal and paleo different is the full spectrum of the lifestyle including Mark's take on fitness and an overall philosophy of the Primal Blueprint.

Also Mark is a part of Primal and I think most of the people on here would agree that we not only like the food/diet portion of Primal but we also like the stuff Mark Sisson puts out to support the Primal way of life. To me it is a paleoesque approach to the modern world and one that is more sustainable than pure strict paleo because it has some built in things that make it a little more fun than plain old paleo....in my opinion of course.

[tomewer]

The differences are starting to become much clearer - and I do like my dairy! I'm glad to be able to still have cheese

[pizzmor]

Me too man. I NEED cream in my coffee...like I need air.