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How to Start the Keto Diet: A Beginner's Guide to a Low-Carb, High-Fat Lifestyle

Health and fitness

By Abhishek GuptaPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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The ketogenic diet has been popular for years. A ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet with moderate protein. The goal of the keto diet is to force your body into ketosis and metabolize fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. According to studies, the ketogenic diet can have many health benefits including weight loss and improved mental clarity. Here are tips on how to start the keto diet today!


What is the ketogenic diet?
The ketogenic diet, also called the keto diet, is a way of eating that puts your body into a natural state of ketosis. When you eat foods high in carbs and sugar, your body will produce glucose and insulin. Glucose is typically used by cells as energy. But when there isn't enough glucose available, your body turns to fat stores for energy.

Your body can store food energy as fat or use it right away for fuel. The problem is that most people have too many carbs in their diet so their bodies are constantly producing glucose. They never reach ketosis because they're not depleted of carbs long enough to burn fat for fuel instead.

To get your body into ketosis, you need to eliminate all carbs from your diet which forces your body's primary source of fuel from being carbohydrates to being fat instead. In this state, you'll start burning fats rather than carbohydrates which causes weight loss and other health benefits like improved mental clarity and reduced blood sugar levels.


The benefits of the ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet can have many health benefits. Some of the benefits are weight loss and improved clarity. According to studies, weight loss on the keto diet is usually experienced because a person will be eating fewer calories than they would on a normal diet. Not only is this an effective way to lose weight, but it also has other health benefits such as lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and reduced inflammation. Improved clarity is another benefit of following a ketogenic diet. Some people experience mental fog while they are on a high-carb diet or low-fat diet. The carbs in these diets contribute to increased insulin levels which can lead to brain fog and fatigue. But when you are on the keto diet, your body has more energy and less insulin in your bloodstream because you are using fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. This means you should have more energy and clearer thoughts!


How to start a keto diet
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat, moderate protein diet. The goal of the keto diet is to force your body into ketosis and metabolize fat for energy. Here are some tips on how to start the keto diet today!


What can you eat on a keto diet?
There are many things you can eat on the keto diet. However, you need to limit your carbohydrate intake. Up to 20 grams of carbs per day is considered low-carb. That’s about one cup of cooked pasta or rice. There are also plenty of foods that contain no carbohydrates and are high in fat and protein. This includes bacon, eggs, avocados, butter, cheese, fatty meats like steak and lamb, olive oil, nuts and seeds.


What are the common side effects and what should you do about them?
One of the most common side effects of starting the keto diet is constipation. This is due to dehydration and a change in diet and lifestyle. Allowing your body time to adjust to the diet can help get rid of constipation.

Some other common side effects are "keto flu" and headaches. Keto flu is similar to having a cold, which includes symptoms like nausea and fatigue. These side effects should be temporary and will eventually go away as your body adjusts to the keto diet. Headaches may also occur because this is a low-carb diet that your body isn't used to yet; however, it should stop once you've become adjusted to the diet.


Conclusion
Starting a keto diet is a commitment, but it can be worth it for the weight loss and increased energy levels. The keto diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbs. It sounds restrictive, but there are plenty of options for food that will fit into your diet and taste good! Keep reading to learn more!

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