14 Feb 3 Reasons Not to Veto the Keto Diet

Let me admit my bias from the outset; as someone who writes about food a lot, I truly believe that the easiest way to both look and feel better begins with how you eat. Now that we’ve gotten that out the way, I’m going to draw on science to support my opinion.

The older we get, the slower our metabolisms work. So if you were lucky enough to inhale whole boxes of pizza, trays of doughnuts and buckets of roast potatoes without it affecting your skin or waistline when you were younger you’re probably going to be quite concerned that your body doesn’t work the same way now. 

That shouldn’t be a cause for concern. 

Trading out complex carbohydrates for whole grains and processed foods for fresh fruits and vegetables is all you have to do to get your body running like a well-oiled machine again. With the ketogenic diet, you can still enjoy some of your favourite foods without having to worry about how it affects your body. Instead of stressing about burning off empty calories, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with feeding your body nourishing food. If you follow the low-carb, moderate protein, higher-fat eating philosophy, you’ll begin to enjoy the benefits of Keto from your very first bite.

Consider the following factors:

IT’S NOT A REAL DIET

It’s more of a lifestyle. With eating disorders running rife in our society, ‘diet’ has become somewhat of a swear word. Thankfully, when you switch to keto, you’re making healthier choices that you will follow long term. No one expects you to deny yourself any protein, carbohydrates or fibres etc. You’ll still be able to indulge your sweet tooth with dessert – you’ll just be doing it in a healthier way. Even if you have a ‘cheat day’ and mow through a party-size packet of crisps, you won’t suddenly gain two kilograms from your body responding to being starved. Keto is controlled and fairly unrestrictive.

IT’S REALLY GOOD FOR YOU

If you’re looking to lose a little weight, good for you, but Keto wasn’t created to primarily serve that need. Your meal plan consists of healthy fats like salmon and avocado, which are rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids that combat heart disease high cholesterol, hypotension and Alzheimer’s. The grains you substitute processed starch with will help you manage your blood sugar level and digestive system. Your body will also appreciate the increased intake of fruits and vegetables.

IT’S TASTY

Nigella Lawson once said, “You cannot truly say you live well unless you eat well,” and being told that you have to get through half an avocado, with a side of crispy bacon, and a soft poached egg sounds like heaven. I’m salivating at the thought of following that with a prawn linguine with pasta made of baby marrow for lunch. Keto lets you get really creative with your food and the results are often so delicious. 

If you’re considering making the shift to Keto, consult a health practitioner who will help you make the transition. If they can’t set you up with a beginners meal plan, they will at least be able to advise you as to which of the diets you can follow between Standard Ketogenic diet (SKD), Cyclical Ketogenic diet (CKD), Targeted Ketogenic diet (TKD) and High-protein Ketogenic diet (HKD).

Sources:

https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/keto
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-foods
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/ketogenic-diet-101#types