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You want to get healthy. You want a diet plan that’s going to work for the long term. Yet you’re stumped because you’ve seemingly tried them all. What’s a person to do?
In a word: Keto.
The ketogenic diet plan could be the right choice for you, especially if you’re looking for something that’s been shown to work. If you’re tired of not getting the results you want, you may want to step into the world of Keto.
What in the World is Keto?
Ketogenic diets don’t look like your typical diet. Plans focus on eating high-fat foods, moderate amounts of proteins and very little carbohydrates. Scientists explain that because the carbs are kept along the lower levels, they force the body into burning fats instead to get energy. This is a process known as ketosis; it’s basically what happens during fasting, but with Keto diets, the fasting is controlled so the body still gets other nutrients.
This may sound a little like all other low-carb diets, like Atkins. However, Keto is a bit different. In general, an individual will be expected to keep his or her carbohydrate levels between 50 and 100 grams per day depending upon how much he or she is working out. With Atkins, carbs are usually introduced back into the diet; on Keto, these minimal carb levels are maintained.
You may be wondering how to start eating Keto. Keto diets contain a lot of proteins, but the exact amount has to be juggled to fit the dieter’s body’s responses. For instance, some dieters may find that their bodies start to turn protein into glucose during ketosis. This makes it tough to continue to lose or maintain weight. Thus, the percentage of protein ingested each day may need to be adjusted.
The amount of fat eaten while on a ketogenic diet often shocks people — up to 80 percent of calories may come from fats. However, this fat is converted into energy. Because the body is in a state of ketosis, the fats are not stored. Ironically, all that fat really does fill you up, so you don’t end up overeating!
What Kinds of Foods Work for Keto Diets
Obviously, dieters cannot just eat any proteins or fats they desire; there are rules to following a Keto diet plan, just as there are rules for other diets. The best fatty foods for Keto include those high in monosaturated and saturated fats, such as coconut oil, avocados, sunflower oil, safflower oil, olive oil, cheese and butter. Most sample Keto diets include a lot of peanut butter, nuts and red meat.
Is Keto Right for You?
As with any diet plan, it’s best to talk with your physician before you adopt the eating rules. However, if you’ve already tried everything else with limited success, it may be worth attempting Keto for a while.