A rigid macro framework vs. a flexible inflammation score — and why they aren't actually in competition.
Keto asks you to restructure your entire diet around a macronutrient ratio. THE FAD doesn't require any specific diet at all — you can eat keto, vegetarian, Mediterranean or anything else, and THE FAD simply scores the inflammatory signals within whatever you're already eating.
| Dimension | Keto | THE FAD |
|---|---|---|
| Core rule | Very low carbohydrate, high fat | No food is banned — quality and pattern matter more than macros |
| Flexibility | Strict macro ratios required to stay in ketosis | Flexible — any eating style can score well or poorly depending on quality |
| Sleep, alcohol, exercise, stress | Not part of the framework | All tracked and weighted into the score |
| Sustainability | Can be hard to maintain socially and long-term | Designed for realistic, imperfect, everyday tracking |
Yes. A well-formulated keto diet — built around vegetables, quality fats and unprocessed protein — can score well on THE FAD. A poorly-formulated one heavy on processed meats and low on fibre may not. THE FAD doesn't take a side on keto; it just shows you the inflammatory cost of how you're doing it.
The best way to understand the difference is to see what a real day scores.
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THE FAD