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The Keto Diet: Know the Basics and What You Can Expect.

keto diet

By karools williamsPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
The Keto Diet: Know the Basics and What You Can Expect.
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

Keto is a diet that has been gaining in popularity since the Atkins Diet took off in the 2000's. The Ketogenic Diet, or Keto for short, is a high-fat, low carb diet that helps with weight loss. But what are the basics of the diet? How do you eat keto friendly meals? What are some known side effects of this diet? If you're considering changing your lifestyle to include Keto, these are things you need to know.

The Ketogenic Diet is essentially a low carb, high fat diet that can help you lose weight and aids in managing diabetes. Though it may seem like there are only millions of ways to make ketones or carbs with this diet, there are actually many options. That's one of the great things about this diet - there are so many different kinds of food items out there!

Some examples of foods on a keto diet include meat, eggs, dairy products (cottage cheese), vegetables (broccoli.

The Ketogenic Diet Defined, What Is It?

The Ketogenic Diet is a diet that is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. The idea behind the diet is that consuming foods with a lower amount of carbs forces the body to produce ketones, which are an alternative fuel for the body. In other words, when you don't consume carbs your body turns to fats as its next fuel source.

Typically, on a keto diet you eat very few carbs, about 5-10% of your total intake. You can also get this amount by eating 20 grams or less of carbs a day. That means if you're eating 1,000 calories a day, your maximum carb intake would be around 50 grams. If you need more help keeping track of how much carbs you're taking in each day, there are many free apps that can help you track that information!

In short: Keto is a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates. To get through the diet successfully, plan out what types of food items will work best for you and how much protein and fat each meal should include.

By Nadine Primeau on Unsplash

What Do You Eat on the Keto Diet?

On a keto diet, you'll need to restrict your carbohydrate intake to 20-30 grams a day. A lot of people who do keto find that they experience a range of benefits, including weight loss and lower blood sugar levels.

You can pretty much eat anything that you would normally eat as long as it's low carb, so there's no real restrictions with this diet. But you should be careful with carbs because they're not always easy to figure out how many carbs are in certain foods. If you want an easier time counting the carbohydrates in the foods you eat, try using this website: https://kitchencalculator.com/carbs/.

If your goal is to lose weight on Keto, then just make sure that the majority of your meals are high fat and low carb. Eating high fat and low carbs will help keep your body from going into starvation mode which slows down weight loss efforts.

GET MY FREE KETO DIET COOKBOOK FULL OF ESSENTIAL RECIPES FOR FREE

How Does This Diet Work?

The Keto Diet is a low carb, high fat diet that forces your body to burn fats instead of carbohydrates. To make this happen, you need to dramatically reduce your intake of carbs and increase the amount of healthy fats (ground flaxseed, olive oil, and fish oils) in your diet. When carbs are not available for energy production, the body burns fat for fuel instead.

When you eat Keto friendly meals and eat keto friendly foods like meat or vegetables the entire day, the body enters into a metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis can be achieved by restricting carbohydrate intake, which causes the liver to produce ketones out of fatty acids in the absence of glucose.

Ketosis is different than starving yourself because it has been found that ketones are actually more efficient than glucose when it comes to providing energy. Your brain also prefers ketones because they don't cause oxidative stress like glucose does. With ketosis, your blood sugar will stabilize without having to monitor it all day long with medication. It's important to monitor how many carbs you're eating on this diet so that you know when you're in or out of ketosis.

What Are the Side Effects of Keto?

This diet is not without its downsides. There are a few things to consider when changing your lifestyle to include the Keto Diet.

The first thing that may come to mind is constipation. When you deprive yourself of carbs, you will likely experience constipation and this can be one of the most difficult side effects of the diet. Glycogen stores in your liver and muscles can also be depleted and may cause fatigue and lack of energy. You may also find yourself feeling cranky and scattered if you don't get enough sleep, which could lead to low blood sugar levels. These symptoms should be resolved after a few weeks as your body adjusts to the new eating habits.

Is Keto Right for Me?: Factors to Consider

There are many factors to consider when deciding whether or not Keto is right for you. If you’re someone who wants to lose weight, then this diet may be perfect for you. It can help you change your eating habits and lose weight at the same time.

If you’re worried about your carbs intake, then the Ketogenic Diet may also be a great option for you.

You also want to think about whether or not this diet will work with your lifestyle. It can help with blood sugar levels, but it isn't appropriate for people on TPN (total parenteral nutrition).

You also need to consider how long you want to follow this diet plan. Some people only stay on the Ketogenic Diet for a month or two before they switch back to their normal diet.

Some of the side effects of the Ketogenic Diet include constipation, bad breath, dehydration, and lack of energy. What's more is that some people have found that their cholesterol levels have gone up during this time as well.

If you're considering Keto, make sure you discuss these factors with your doctor before making any changes!

GET MY FREE KETO DIET COOKBOOK FULL OF ESSENTIAL RECIPES FOR FREE

Conclusion

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that shares its name with the metabolic state, ketosis. Ketosis is a natural process that essentially burns fat for fuel, and the keto diet aims to put the body into and maintain it in ketosis. The keto diet can be a healthy and effective way to lose weight and improve health. It's recommended to consult with a doctor before starting this diet.

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