Most of us want to look our best. The easiest way that we can do this is by being fit. Yet, many of us have a hard time maintaining our ideal body weights, thanks to junk food, inactivity, and bad genes.
The traditional way of losing weight has lost its appeal to us because sometimes, they are hard to do. Foodies are usually the ones who have a difficult time because they just can’t swallow bland food. Other people also do not have the time to commit to daily exercises.
Thankfully, researchers have found that we can still lose weight easily without sacrificing taste, going hungry and doing too much exercise. Let me introduce to you the famous ketogenic diet.
What is a Ketogenic Diet?
The Ketogenic Diet or Keto Diet is a meal plan that is very low in carbohydrates, moderate amounts of protein, and high amounts of fat. The deficit in calories from carbohydrates are replaced with higher amounts of protein and fat. With this, your body will not feel hungry because you are still eating enough calories even without carbs.
When you are on a keto diet, your body will be in a state of ketosis. This is where your body burns and uses fat to supply itself with energy. To achieve this, there must be a limited supply of glucose. This signals the body to break down stored fat and turn them into ketones, which are small molecules of fuel for the body.
Due to this principle, many people on keto diets lose weight fast even if they are not starving themselves. The moderate protein content of the diet also helps to maintain muscle mass during weight loss. It also makes them feel full for longer periods. The high content of fat in the diet makes it enjoyable because the food that you are going to eat will be palatable. Every meal will be enjoyable.
Eating Do’s and Don’ts in a Keto Diet
Since the keto diet is a low-carb diet, you need to avoid eating too much sugar and starchy foods. Avoid sugary drinks, pastries, all kinds of bread, wheat-based pasta, and other high carb food. In addition, you should also try to eat vegetables that are non-starchy, like green leafy vegetables. The maximum amount of carbs that you need to eat is 50 grams per day. However, if you want it to be more effective, you should eat less than 20 grams of carbs per day.
All sources of protein are welcome in a keto diet. You just need to limit using some sauces, especially those that use starch as one of its ingredients. In addition, it can be helpful to use healthy fats. Use oils that are low in trans fats like olive oil and coconut oil.
Choosing Beverages in a Keto Diet
Water is your new best friend when you want to go keto. It is the perfect drink because it can adequately hydrate you without the added calories. Also, you can still enjoy your daily cup of joe. You can add an unsweetened creamer but no sugar. You can also enjoy a cup of tea every day as long as it is unsweetened.