Keto diets have exploded on the national scene in recent years, gaining in popularity. So it becomes a smart move to know something about them and their relative safety compared to other, more traditional diets. Before looking at Keto supplements, let’s see what the diet itself is and why you need the supplements.
What is a Keto Diet?
A ketogenic, or keto, diet is a diet that makes your body release ketones into your bloodstream. It accomplishes this by radically reducing your intake of carbohydrates, which is where your body gets its main supply of blood sugars from.
In the absence of carbs, your body is forced to start burning fat, breaking it down into molecules called ketones. This process is called ketosis. Your body will continue burning stored fat until you resume eating carbohydrates.
Most of what you eat on a ketogenic diet consists of eggs, meat (included processed meat), cheese, sausage, nuts, fish, oils, butter, seeds, some nuts, and vegetables that are high in fiber. Since carbs normally account for about 50% of most American’s diets, it’s obvious this is a highly restrictive diet. This makes it very hard to stick to over the long run.
Is It Healthy?
Prior to the last few years, a ketogenic diet was something that would normally be prescribed by a registered dietitian in consultation with a doctor. It has shown some effectiveness in treating epilepsy, particularly in children, because it helps control seizures. There is also interest in its application to treating brain injuries and/or neurodegenerative diseases.
Because it’s so restrictive, it’s difficult to maintain for very long. As soon as your resume eating carbohydrates, your body attempts to replace the fuel it “lost” during the ketosis. This results in a rapid weight gain, leading to the familiar and dreaded “yo-yo” effect, where you lose weight and gain it back over and over again.
Keto Supplements
Supplements for Keto diets are intended to help you avoid the “yo-yo” effect and maintain a stable weight over an extended period of time. But are the supplements themselves safe? “Shortcut Keto Article: Are Keto Supplements Safe?” is a good place to start looking for answers.
The quick answer is yes. The supplements themselves are perfectly safe. They’re made from natural ingredients, many of which your body needs anyway. They help reduce the fatigue and loss of energy that often accompanies Keto diets, and work to keep you mentally sharp and alert.
Keto supplements are intended to replace many of the nutrients your body needs but doesn’t get from the diet. If you’re on the Keto diet, you need the best keto protein powder supplements to maintain your health.
Healthy Foods
Beyond simply avoiding foods that are high in carbohydrates and eating food that’s high in proteins and fats, you also need foods that are good for your body. There are a number of foods that will help you maintain an active lifestyle. Here are a few of them.
- Eggs
A box without hinges, key, lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.
There’s nothing new or extraordinary about eggs, they’ve been around forever, but people just don’t eat enough of them. One egg typically contains around 60 calories and 6 grams of protein. That’s hard to beat.
- Tomatoes
This common food contains an antioxidant called lycopene. According to research, it helps reduce your chances of getting heart disease. Besides that, tomatoes taste good. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a tomato sandwich with mayo on a hot day. Yum!
- Olive Oil
Rachel Ray’s penchant for cooking with Extra Virgin Olive Oil aside, olive oil has an abundance of healthy fats in it, both the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated variety. Nearly 25% of the fats in olive oil come from these two types. Adding it to your cooking will supplement the fatty acids you need in your diet.
- Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate – unsweetened – has a lot of phosphorus, zinc, and potassium, as well as 11 grams of fiber in a 100-gram bar. It’s an excellent, healthy replacement for regular candy.
Prepared Meals
Finally, consider the advantages of a diet of prepackaged and prepared meals. They usually come in kits that are delivered right to your door. They have all the nutritional information listed on the packaging so it’s easy to keep track of it. They contain fresh healthy ingredients and they’re easy to fix. The convenience of them is a huge selling point and because that, you’re more likely to stick to your diet. And sticking to the diet is what dieters need more than anything.