There are plenty of diets and meal plans out there with different versions being introduced all the time. If youve heard the term but find yourself wondering what is the keto diet, youve come to the right place!
The keto diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, is low in carbohydrates and rich in fat. Its been used for centuries and in the 19th century, was commonly used as a way to help control diabetes.
More recently, the diet has become popular as a potential way to lose weight. It shares similarities with some other low-carb diets like the Paleo Diet and the South Beach Diet. These diets are high in protein and moderate in fat. The keto diet, however, is especially known for its high intake in fat content and moderate intake in protein content.
The base of the ketogenic diet for weight loss has to do with depriving the body of glucose, which is the main source of energy for our bodys cells and comes from eating foods with carbohydrates.
If you do this, an alternate source of fuel known as ketones are produced from the stored fat (which is where the term keto comes from). Because the body demands glucose, when few carbohydrates are being eaten, it pulls stored glucose from the liver and temporarily breaks down muscle to release the glucose. If this sort of fasting continues for 3-4 days, the glucose is depleted and the blood levels of insulin decrease, meaning that the body starts to use fat as its fuel. In the absence of glucose, the liver produces ketone bodies from fat, which are then used instead. Ketosis, which may be a term youve heard, happens when keynote bodies accumulate in the blood.
Mild ketosis occurs in healthy people during periods of fasting, like sleeping overnight, or strenuous exercise. Those who advocate the diet believe that if its followed carefully, the brain will use ketones for fuel and the blood level of ketones will not reach a harmful level, known as ketoacidosis.
There are lots of different versions of the keto diet, but all do away with foods that are rich in carbohydrates like starches, refined and whole grains, pasta, cereal, cookies, potatoes and sugary fruits.
At Bobs Red Mill, we love our pasta and bread, but we also love experimenting with different ingredients. We think a loaf of bread made from whole wheat and honey is delicious, but so is a loaf of bread made from almond meal!
Lets take a closer look at the list of keto diet foods and see how you can incorporate them into your own unique diet and lifestyle.
Now that weve answered the question What is the keto diet? lets uncover What is the keto diet meal plan? If youre building a keto diet meal plan, there are plenty of options! From seafood to cheese to leafy greens, here are some of the staples of the keto diet.
When it comes to creating a keto diet plan for beginners, many folks are surprised to hear that the diet itself is rich with ingredients! With those ingredients comes the opportunity for plenty of unique and creative recipes to excite the taste buds. Here are some of our favorites.
If youve yet to try our Cashew No-Cheese Sauce, you are in for the ultimate umami bomb! Nutritional Yeast, garlic, lemon and cashews combine to create a luscious and rich sauce that is good on just about everything. Its a great way to jazz up your keto-friendly vegetables like roasted broccoli or cauliflower. You can drizzle it over your Nooch Crackers or make a wildly tasty cashew sauce pizza.
If youre just diving in to the keto diet meal plan, we hope this article has answered your questions and left you feeling inspired to try it!
Whether youre looking to experiment with new foods and preparations, or just interested in seeing if the diet is right for your body, the keto diet is a fun one to try.
As always, there are so many variations of diets and each one offers something different. What works for one person might not be a fit for another.
From all of us at Bobs Red Mill, we hope you choose ingredients that make you feel good from the inside out. Thank you for reading and have a happy and healthy day ahead!
