Updated Sep 22nd, — Written by Craig Clarke. Medical review by Dr. The ketogenic diet has been rising in popularity, and for good reason — it is simple and yields significant results. Whether you want to lose fat, increase energy, enhance brain health, improve your blood sugar levels, or improve your overall health, keto may be the diet you are looking for. However, before we learn how to start a keto diet, we must develop a deeper understanding of what it is and why it is so effective. Knowing the what and why behind this way of eating plays an integral role in your keto diet success as well as knowing how to get started. The keto diet can be described in many different ways, but the most common definition is that it is a high-fat, low-carb, low-to-moderate protein diet. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your body is consistently using and burning a highly efficient alternative fuel called ketones. To produce ketones and enter ketosis, we must continually trigger a process in the liver called ketogenesis. The healthiest way to do this is by limiting carb consumption more than any other low carb diet. However, this begs the question: Is undergoing such a massive shift in your diet so that you can be in ketosis worth it?
Thinking about carbs? The ketogenic or keto diet is one of the most popular diet trends out there. Proponents are a mixed bag of celebrities on the quest for the perfect body, athletes motivated to gain a performance edge, and executives trying to biohack their body to be smarter and faster in the workplace. While the science and use of the diet have slowly evolved over time, the mechanisms of action have remained the same. A ketogenic or keto diet is a low carbohydrate pattern of eating that is commonly also high in fat. A typical distribution of the macronutrients also known as macros is shown below. In the absence of carbohydrates, your body shifts from burning primarily sugar or glucose for energy to burning fat. In this fat-burning mode, the liver uses dietary and body fat to produce fuel molecules called ketones.
Today: Get to know the challenge 15 minutes Sunday: Prep and start hours. A keto diet is about avoiding carbohydrates and replacing them with other, real foods — low-carb vegetables, proteins and healthy fats. Another name for the keto diet is the low-carb, high-fat LCHF diet. In this challenge, we make it simple. Just follow the plan to stay under 20 grams of carbs per day. This is highly effective for weight loss and diabetes reversal. Here are some sample recipes, click for a closer look: Jill’s cheese-crusted keto omelet Keto pizza omelet Italian keto meatballs with mozzarella cheese. Consider printing the meal plans, recipes and shopping lists if you want them available offline.