Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, chances are that you have heard people raving about the keto diet. You may not be entirely sure what they are talking about, but you’ve figured it’s a big deal. This low-carb diet is the hottest thing on the health and fitness scene at the moment, with many celebrities emphatically claiming that it delivers results. But what are the benefits of keto diet?
What is Keto Diet?
Short for ketogenic, the keto diet focuses on minimizing your intake of carbs and upping your intake of fats. While you can cry a silent tear for the croissants and bowls of pasta that you will have to wave goodbye to, the major positive of this diet is that by increasing the amount of fat you consume, you still feel full and satisfied – so no left feeling light-headed and hungry, because you are living off stinky cabbage soup and rabbit food when you are on the keto diet.
How Does the Keto Diet Work?
The suggestion of increasing your fat intake may be setting off alarm bells in your head. After all, a diet is supposed to aid you in losing fat, right? Exactly. In fact, our body works in a fascinating way when participating in the keto diet: when you consume carbohydrates, your body retains water weight and saves those carbs in case it needs them for energy later. By contrast, if your body doesn’t have any carbs to save, you will lose weight from water retention.
After a few days on the keto diet, the body goes into ketosis, which means that it starts burning fat for energy and using ketones in place of carbs!
Keto Diet for Beginners
As with starting out on any new diet, it is important to gradually ease yourself into the keto diet. We recommend that you start the transition into your new keto lifestyle by starting off with the paleo diet – getting fat-adapted – and then gradually changing over to the keto diet.
While it may look like this is going to make your life more complicated, in the long term it will be incredibly beneficial and become almost so second nature that you will not want to go back to your previous lifestyle.
It can be tricky to implement the keto diet and to establish a go-to selection of yummy keto recipes, but following our low-carb news and recipe ideas will help to get you started on your way to becoming fat adapted.
Understand the Keto Diet Menu
It is human nature to groan and whine every time you hear any mention of the word “diet.” We are sure that you just shuddered as you read over it there. Though the idea of dieting is synonymous with the thought of eating bland foods and simple salads, that could not be farther from the truth on the keto diet. In fact, the keto diet menu can be as interesting and flavorful as you want it to be, with dishes like Asian stir fries and flavourful omelets. It will gradually become a lifestyle.
If you are concerned that you will really miss carbs, then fear not: the good thing about the keto diet menu is that you can find carb-free or low-carb alternatives for your favorites. Cooking and planning meal times can still be a fun part of your schedule on the keto diet.
Check out keto products we recommend!
Nutritional Ketosis Benefits
The ketogenic diet means a lot of change and work at first. However, nutritional ketosis benefits more than makeup for your efforts. Due to the drastic changes, you will likely undertake when transitioning from your standard to the keto diet, you will also see results relatively quickly. Though the benefits are extensive and varied, we have summarised some of the best below.
Improved Brain Function
Carbs cause your body’s blood sugar levels to fluctuate up and down. Since these levels are inconsistent on a diet that is rich in carbohydrates, your mind can seem foggy at times, or you can find it difficult to concentrate on certain tasks. After going keto, you will find yourself more focused than ever before.
Effortless Weight Loss
As a result of ketosis and the lack of water retention, you will shed weight effortlessly, particularly in the beginning. After 6 weeks to 3 months, re-evaluate if you are still benefitting from the ultra-low carb diet such as keto. There is some evidence that women may benefit from carb cycling. Also, if you enjoy a hard workout, you may want to carb up around your workouts.
Reduced Hunger
Did you know that when you eat a diet that is rich in carbohydrates, your body becomes hungry faster, having more cravings and the desire to eat naughty and unhealthy things? When you participate in the keto diet, you will find that you have less desire to snack and eat foods that are bad for you. It’s hard to believe it but trust us – “hunger” becomes a non-issue once you get fat adapted.
Skin Improvement
A diet that is high in greens, quality proteins, and healthy fats, like the keto diet, will provide a noticeable change in the skin within just a few weeks. Those on keto have reported that their skin is clearer, smoother, and less tired looking. In all, the keto diet can contribute to a fresher and more useful appearance.
They say that nothing worth doing in life comes easy, and arguably the keto diet is one such example of that. With that said, we are on hand to help you every step of the way and to ensure that your low-carb diet journey is successful and enjoyable. Sign up for our newsletter to get helpful advice, dieting motivation, and scrummy paleo and keto recipes in your inbox every week. We are here to help!
