What is the Keto Diet? Everything You Need to Know

Intermittent fasting, Whole 30, and calorie counting, oh my! There are so many different kinds of diets out there today; it’s easy to get overwhelmed by how many options there are. While many of these diets are trends that are here today and gone tomorrow, there is one kind of diet that has stood the test of time and is here to stay: the keto diet. This kind of diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, is the ideal diet for people who want to burn fat quicker while not necessarily restricting your calorie intake to an unhealthy amount. Today, we’re going to give an introduction to the keto diet. We’ll talk about what it is exactly, what the benefits are, what foods you can eat, and what foods you should avoid, and we’ll end on an introductory keto cookie recipe that uses keto friendly chocolate chips to get you started on your keto journey. Keep reading to see how this diet can change your life. 

What is the Keto Diet? 

Let’s answer the question that you’ve been asking yourself: what in the world is the keto diet exactly? It’s really quite simple. The keto diet is a high fat, low carb diet. Specifically, this diet is supposed to help you replace essentially all the carbohydrates in your diet with healthy fats instead. By replacing your carbs with fats, you can put your body into a state of ketosis (this is where the name “keto diet” comes from). This is because carbohydrates are converted into glucose in the body, which is where your cells get most of their energy from. When your body is in ketosis, it uses fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates/glucose. This helps your body burn fat faster and more efficiently. 

What are the Benefits of the Keto Diet? 

As we mentioned, the keto diet is really effective for burning fat fast and efficiently, but there are so many more benefits, too. The keto diet can help with a variety of health conditions, such as diabetes. If you have diabetes and start the keto diet, your body’s sensitivity to insulin could increase by 70%, which is basically unheard of. The keto diet is also known for its benefits related to neurological conditions, like Alzhiemer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy, to name a few. If you have any of these conditions and want a wholesome, food-based way to treat it, then the keto diet is right for you. A keto fat burner has many benefits for you!

Foods to Eat on the Keto Diet 

Now, let’s dive into the specific types of food you should be eating on the keto diet. Like we mentioned, the keto diet is focused on replacing carbs with healthy fats, but there is also an emphasis on protein, so you’ll be eating a ton of meat on the keto diet. Any meat will do, so whether you like chicken or beef or pork, you can have what you like and a lot of it on this protein-friendly diet. You’ll also want to eat a lot of fatty fish on the keto diet, like salmon and tuna because they’re full of healthy fats. Dairy foods also have healthy fats, so make sure to stock up on eggs, butter, creams, and cheese. Other foods you’ll want to keep handy are nuts, seeds, avocados, and low-carb green vegetables. 

Foods to Stay Away From on the Keto Diet 

Remember: we’re replacing carbs with healthy fats, so don’t forget to avoid the following food items:

• Sugary foods: candy, sodas, ice cream, juice 
• Fruits: all types of fruits 
• Starches: bread, rice, pasta, noodles, oats 
• Low fat foods: any low fat product 
• Beans: kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, peas 
• Root vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots
• Saturated fats: fried foods, processed foods  

Keto Friendly Chocolate Chips Cookie Recipe 

We’ll end this guide to the keto diet with a super easy recipe you can use to get started. This recipe will also show you that you can still enjoy dessert foods on a keto diet, but you have to use special ingredients. You will need: 

• 4 oz. keto friendly chocolate chips 
• 2 tsp vanilla extract 
• 2 brown eggs
• ½ cup soft butter
• ½ cup granular sweetener
• 3 cups coconut flour 
• ½ tsp salt 
• ½ tsp baking soda 

After preheating the oven to 325 degrees, throw together all the dry ingredients (except the keto friendly chocolate chips) in one bowl and the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Slowly mix the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and then you’ll fold in our beloved keto friendly chocolate chips. Scoop the cookie dough in one-tablespoon amounts onto your baking sheet, stick it in the oven for 10 minutes, and voila! You have for yourself keto friendly chocolate chip cookies. 

Conclusion 

We hope this article gave you some more insight about the keto diet. If you have any concerning health conditions or just want to lose fat in a healthy way, we recommend you give this diet a try. You’ll be thanking us later (especially for the keto friendly chocolate chip cookie recipe)!