Everyone’s talking about the keto diet right now. People ask us all the time if it’s really different than IIFYM… and it’s not.
It has a different macro ratio split, but ultimately you are still tracking your macros and eating the foods you want to eat inside those ratios.
How do you calculate keto macros?
It varies from person to person (and expert to expert), but usually the macro ratio falls within the following range:
- 60-80% of calories from fat
- 15-30% of calories from protein
- 5-10% of calories from net carbs (net carbs are your grams of carbs minus the grams of fiber… so you can still eat lots of veggies!)
Regardless of the ketogenic macro ratio you use, your goal should be to eat as few carbs as possible, and the carbs you do eat should be high in fiber.
Why should you consider a ketogenic diet?
Your body uses carbohydrates (sugar) as fuel. By strictly limiting your carbohydrate intake you can force your body to burn fat instead.
This new energy will come from a high fat diet, but also from your stores of body fat! Simply put, a ketogenic (or keto) diet is one which converts your body from burning sugar to burning fat.
What are ketones?
Once your body begins to burn fat as fuel it will produce ketones as a byproduct. Your body is then said to be in a ketogenic state.
Ketones promote brain function, and as an added bonus, excess ketones are not stored by your body, but excreted in your urine.
Ketogenic diet and insulin levels
A ketogenic diet also controls insulin levels and eliminates insulin swings.
Insulin moves sugar (glucose) through your bloodstream and into your muscles and eventually to your liver to be stored as glycogen. Unfortunately, once your muscles and liver are “full” insulin promotes the storage of excess carbs as body fat.
Controlling your insulin levels through a strict, low carbohydrate diet can keep your body in fat burning mode… though it can be really hard to maintain that low level of carbs, which can make the ketogenic diet hard to maintain.
What to Eat on a Keto Diet:
Meat and Poultry
Eggs
Seafood
Cheese
Greek Yogurt and Cottage Cheese
Nuts and Seeds
Low-Carb Vegetables
Avocados
Berries
The stricter rules of the keto diet can help people break some of their food habits (especially if high carb treats like cookies or cake are your vices) before moving to a more balanced If It Fits Your Macros ratio that includes carbs and is more sustainable.
The title of this article implied you would indicate “what to eat on a Keto diet”. Am I to assume the foods noted in the article are in fact Keto friendly?