A ketogenic diet for beginners

So what is a keto diet?

The keto diet is a very low-carb, higher-fat diet. It’s similar in many ways to other low-carb diets.

While you eat far fewer carbohydrates on a keto diet, you maintain moderate protein consumption and may increase your intake of fat.

The reduction in carb intake puts your body in a metabolic state called ketosis, where fat, from your diet and from your body, is burned for energy.

You can quickly learn more about the basic ideas behind the keto diet by watching this short video or read this article in full:

What does “keto” mean?

A “keto” or “ketogenic” diet is so named because it causes your body to produce small fuel molecules called “ketones.”

This is an alternative fuel source for your body that can be used when blood sugar (glucose) is in short supply.

When you eat very few carbs or very few calories, your liver produces ketones from fat. These ketones then serve as a fuel source throughout the body, especially for the brain.

The brain is a hungry organ that consumes lots of energy every day, and it can’t run on fat directly. It can only run on glucose – or ketones.

On a ketogenic diet, your entire body switches its fuel supply to run mostly on fat, burning fat 24-7.

When insulin levels drop very low, fat burning can increase dramatically. It becomes easier to access your fat stores to burn them off.

This is great if you’re trying to lose weight, but there can also be other benefits, such as less hunger and a steady supply of energy — without the sugar peaks and valleys that often occur when eating high-carb meals.

This may help keep you alert and focused.

When the body produces ketones, it enters a metabolic state called ketosis. The fastest way to get there is by fasting – not eating anything – but nobody can consistently fast forever.

A keto diet, on the other hand, also results in ketosis and can be eaten indefinitely. It has many of the benefits of fasting – including weight loss – without having to fast long term.

Who should NOT do a ketogenic diet?

There are controversies and myths about a keto diet, but for most people it appears to be very safe.

However, three groups often require special consideration:

Do you take medication for diabetes, such as insulin?
Do you take medication for high blood pressure?
Do you breastfeed?

For more details about pros and cons in different situations, watch the short video to determine if a keto diet right for you.

Always consult your doctor before making drastic changes in your diet.

While the ketogenic diet has many proven benefits, it’s still controversial.

The main potential danger regards medications, e.g. for diabetes, where doses may need to be adapted.

Discuss any changes in medication and relevant lifestyle changes with your doctor.

What to eat on a keto diet?

Here are typical foods to enjoy on a ketogenic diet.

Fish and seafood, cheese, meat, eggs, vegetables that grow above ground, natural fats like butter & olive oil

To remain in ketosis, lower is generally better:

What’s the most important thing to do to reach ketosis?

Avoid eating too many carbs. You’ll likely need to keep carb intake under 50 grams of net carbs per day, ideally below 20 grams.

The fewer the carbs, the more effective the diet appears to be for reaching ketosis, losing weight or improving type 2 diabetes.

Counting carbs can be helpful at first. But if you stick to our recommended foods and recipes you can stay keto even without counting.

What should you avoid on a keto diet?

Foods containing a lot of carbs, both the sugary and the starchy kind. This includes starchy foods like bread, pasta, rice and potatoes.

These foods are very high in carbs.The numbers are grams of net carbs per 100 grams (3.5 ounces), unless otherwise noted.

Also avoid or limit highly processed foods and instead follow our whole foods keto diet advice.

You should also avoid low-fat diet products.

A keto diet should be moderately high in protein and will probably be higher in fat, since fat provides the energy you’re no longer getting from carbohydrate.

Low-fat products usually provide too many carbs and not enough protein and fat.

More specific advice on what to eat – and what not to eat watch this short video

What to drink?

What can you drink on a ketogenic diet? Water is the perfect drink, and coffee or tea are fine too. Ideally, use no sweeteners, especially sugar.

A splash of milk or cream in your coffee or tea is OK, but beware that the carbs can add up if you drink multiple cups in a day (and definitely avoid caffe lattes!).

The occasional glass of wine is fine too.

For more details on what to eat or drink and try Keto for a healthier life style, watch this short video