The Dos and Don’ts of Keto
The science behind a keto diet, consisting of a higher intake of fats and a lower amount of carbohydrates, is to ensure that your body burns fat instead of carbohydrates like it generally does. This has been a proven method for weight loss, but it also requires that you eat only the right kinds of foods. Here is a list of dos and don’ts for keto dieting.
Dos for keto dieting
1. Add in leafy greens
Food such as kale, spinach, arugula, and cabbage or known to be great additions for a keto diet given that they are deficient in carbs. On an ideal keto diet, along with 75% fat and 20% protein, you need to be eating only 5% carbs.
2. Add seeds to your diet
One of the best sources of fats are seeds, and they are all the more essential when trying the keto diet. The best flavorsome seeds which can promote better burning of fats are chia, sesame, and flax seeds.
3. Consume lean proteins
As noted earlier, your diet should be balanced, with about 20% of protein intake. The best way to do this, without adding unhealthy fats, is to choose lean proteins daily. This could include lean meat, eggs, and fish.
Don’ts for keto dieting
1. Don’t eat high-sugar fruits
While most fruits fall under the healthy category, some contain more carbs. Given that the very idea of a keto diet is to keep carbs at a minimum, you need to avoid specific fruits such as cherries, bananas, mangoes, and grapes.
2. Don’t eat grain-based items
Some of the components you have to remove from your grocery list include cookies, pasta, rice, and bread. They contain high levels of calories due to the carbs and starch in them. While they are recommended for a certain amount on your regular diet plans, they are not advisable when you are on a keto diet.
3. Don’t consume any form of sugar
Given that you are eliminating carbs, you also need to eliminate all forms of processed and natural sugars. This could be in the form of a banana or a cookie. It is an important component to remember because the addition of sugar can end up causing fat storage instead of burning.
4. Don’t eat starchy vegetables
High-carb vegetables have to be on your “not to eat” list because they impact your overall keto diet. Some of the worst veggies to avoid for a keto diet include sweet potatoes, corn, peas, and potatoes.
While the basics of understanding a keto diet may seem simple, there are quite a few intricacies that you need to pay close attention to. This is a very restrictive diet, and therefore, you need to be aware of and keep watch over every component you eat. Only then will you be successful in getting the desired results out of a keto diet.