[Research + Content]
[Published here]
Everyone has at some point in their lives considered getting on a diet. The will to be healthy or skinny or muscular drives most to get on one, but staying on the diet? Well, for many that does fizzle out after a few days of eating boring, boiled, or bland food.
Traditional diets have taught us this. No fats. No carbs. No sugar. Give it all up. Just eat fruits and veggies – and you’ll be healthy. For many, these diets may have shown results, but the will to stay on, and actually have a healthy relationship with food is severely lacking. We’ve seen diets teach us that food is the enemy, and the lesser you eat, the healthier you are.
The Ketogenic diet however, is here to teach us otherwise. It has a totally opposite set of dietary restrictions than we are used to. For instance, it teaches people to eat meat and fat, and to avoid fruits and veggies. WHAT?
Skeptical? Well, you shouldn’t be! This diet is totally legit. It lets you eat meat, and not just the boiled or steamed white meat kind. You can go all out with grilled red meat too! That means steak! And BACON! Yes, both totally accepted on Keto! Now, before you go all crazy and order a steak with mashed potatoes and a rich mushroom sauce, slow down. That’s where Keto draws the line.
First, let’s break down Keto.
When you eat something high in carbs, your body breaks it down into glucose and insulin. Glucose is the easiest molecule for your body to convert and use as energy. So obviously, your body will choose to use Glucose as an energy source over fats. This results in fats being stored in your body.
Keto is a Low Carb High Fat diet whose main goal is to force your body into a metabolic state called Ketosis – a natural “survival mode” our body kicks into when our food intake is low. So when you supply your body with very few carbs and more fat, your body begins to produce ketones by breaking down fats, and burning these ketones. And that’s where you get energy from.
All this while, we’ve been taught that to lose fat, you must stop consuming fat. But according to Keto, that isn’t true at all! So, what can you eat on Keto anyway?
Here’s a quick rundown of the things you can and should be eating:
Meats including fish, lamb, poultry, beef, and eggs; Leafy greens like spinach, lettuce, and kale; Above-ground veggies like broccoli and cauliflower; High-fat dairy including paneer or cottage cheese and other hard cheeses, high fat cream, and butter!!; Nuts and seeds like walnuts and macadamias; and other good fats like avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil. And water – tons of it!
And what to absolutely stay away from?
In short: Grains and pulses including like wheat, corn, rice, cereal, dals; Sugar in all forms including honey; Fruit of any kind; High-starch vegetables like potatoes and yams. That’s pretty much it.
Looking at these lists and seeing a longer “can eat” list rather than a “can’t eat” list is one big reason why more people are encouraged to try out Keto. That, and the fact that weight loss isn’t the only benefit from a Keto diet. Studies have shown a whole host of health benefits including balanced blood sugar levels, better mental performance, higher energy levels, improvement in blood pressure, reversal of PCOS, and many more!
When you’re planning your Keto diet, make sure you opt for fresh meats and produce. To make things easier for you, they’re all now easily available online! If you’re looking for white meat, order fresh chicken online here, and if you’re more of a red meat fan, order Bannur Mutton online here! Also, do check out our blog on The Battle Of The Meats for your own insights on which is better.
Note:
If you’re considering getting on a Ketogenic diet, check first with your doctor. Keto might not be suitable for you if you have a pre-existing medical condition, or you might need more monitoring if you are breastfeeding. Also, be warned that it might have some side effects, especially when you start off – called the Keto Flu.
©Kukreja 