Here at Num Gourmet Desserts, we talk a lot about the keto diet. All of our desserts are keto-friendly, after all! If you haven’t heard about it here, you’ve probably run into the term ‘keto’ somewhere. It’s one of the most widely used diets for losing weight and increasing the overall health of your body. Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about keto!
What is the Keto Diet?
The Keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet. With this diet, you are essentially replacing your carb intake with healthy fats. The net carbohydrate intake varies depending on the person, but in general, it is recommended to eat under 25-35 net grams of carbs a day. The keto diet has been proven to help lose weight, among other health benefits. While many foods are restricted on the Keto diet, such as carbs, protein is encouraged in moderate amounts.
There is a really interesting science behind how the keto diet works in your body. When deprived of carbs, your body begins to burn fat for energy instead of sugar (or glucose) that comes from carbohydrates. When you do this, your body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis. While in ketosis, your body becomes much more efficient at burning fat. The keto diet is such an appealing weight loss solution because it conditions your body to break down existing fat stores.
Which foods should you eat and which should you avoid on the Keto Diet?
The keto diet follows very strict rules regarding what you can and cannot eat. Because keto works only when carbs are limited, the diet must be followed with exactness. As a beginner, these guidelines can be overwhelming or confusing, but when you understand the basics, it’s a little bit easier to tackle.
First, let’s talk about the foods you need to stay away from. It’s difficult to only list food groups because nearly every group has an exception or two. But to give you an idea, here is a rough outline of foods you need to stay away from:
- Grains —Cereal, wheat, rice, bread, corn
- Sugary foods — candy, soda, processed foods
- Fruit — Apples, bananas, grapes, oranges,
- Other foods — Potatoes, yams, beans, milk, carrots
Now that we’ve talked about the foods you can’t have, let’s move on to all the foods you can eat! The keto diet focuses on healthy, whole foods. There are so many amazing foods that fit into that category… including desserts! Many people who follow this diet have rich, delicious meals. Some foods that are allowed in keto are:
- Meats —poultry, fish, eggs, beef, lamb
- Low Carb Veggies — Broccoli, green beans, kale, celery, zucchini, peppers
- Dairy —Cheese, butter, heavy cream
- Some Nuts and Seeds —sunflower seeds, almonds, macadamia, walnuts
- Other healthy foods —Avocado, coconut oil, berries, artificial sweetener
A transition to the keto diet may change many things about what you currently eat. Unless you already follow a diet focused on whole foods, you may have to increase your awareness about what foods you are using to fuel your body. Without a doubt, it will require work, time, and self-control. But there are things you can still eat, like desserts! They just require slight ingredient adjustments. At Num Gourmet Desserts, we are committed to making delicious treats that are in line with the keto diet. We’re so glad you’re here to follow along!
