The Keto Diet: What is it?
The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is a diet that focuses on reducing carb intake and eating a high amount of fats and a moderate amount of proteins. The idea behind the diet is to limit the number of carbohydrates you eat, which has multiple benefits when it comes to losing weight and managing specific disorders. Basically, 60 to 75 percent of your diet should consist of fat and 15 to 30 percent of your diet should be made up of protein. No more than five to ten percent of your diet should be carbs. Some of the most popular and delicious foods are loaded with carbs, so almost entirely eliminating them from your diet may seem impossible.
There is a reason people choose to take on this unique diet. It was initially developed for people who suffered from recurrent seizures and epilepsy. The combination of high fat and low carb can help someone manage seizures. Lately, more and more people have started to take notice of this diet for an entirely different reason: weight loss. How it works is the diet limits the number of carbs that enter the body. Carbohydrates are the body’s primary source of energy. By taking that away, your body is forced to burn fat as a source of energy instead. Carbs also cause your body to retain a lot of water in order to store energy. By limiting carbs, you will also lose that water weight.
Five Keto Approved Foods
Here are five basic foods that are not only keto safe but are also staple ingredients to consume daily.
-
Eggs
Eggs are such a vital ingredient to keep in the kitchen if you are going to cook for the ketogenic diet. Eggs are very low in carbs but are excellent sources of protein and fats. They are also incredibly versatile.
-
Salmon
Salmon is a great fish to eat while on the keto diet because it is a fantastic source of protein and is high in healthy fats, such as omega-3s.
-
Bacon
Though you have to miss out on foods like bread and cake, the good news is that you can still eat bacon on the keto diet. It is high in fat and very low in carbs. It is a welcomed addition to almost any dish.
-
Coconut Oil
Containing no carbs and being a major fat source, coconut oil is a go-to keto ingredient. It can be used in almost any dish and is an excellent way to up the fat content of your meal.
-
Cauliflower
If you search for keto recipes, you will likely come across a dish that includes cauliflower rice. When grated and steamed, cauliflower has a rice-like texture and can be a low-carb alternative to rice.
