For our first food post, I thought I would talk about the newest diet craze. It’s called the Keto Diet. A keto diet is known for being a low carb diet where the body produces ketones in the liver to be used as energy. It actually has been around in different forms and has been called the ketogenic diet, low carb diet, low carb high fat (LCHF), and some also compare it to the Atkins Diet.

Ketosis is a natural process the body initiates to help us survive when food intake is low. During this state, we produce ketones, which are produced from the breakdown of fats in the liver. The end goal of a properly maintained keto diet is to force your body into this metabolic state. We don’t do this through starvation of calories but starvation of carbohydrates.

I would say the main attraction about this diet, is the ability to eat high fat items like meats and cheese. For me, this makes the diet less daunting. But the key is, you really have to cut all sugars from your diet. It’s amazing how much sugar is contained in products until you start reading the labels. For example, Craisins are known for being a healthy snack that is high in anti-oxidents. But, each serving has about 29 grams of sugar. I know I would usually eat more than a few servings and those carbs really add up.

So before you kick off this new diet fad, talk to your doctor and see if it is right for you. It has been shown to have positive effects on people with high-blood sugar or people who are pre-diabetic. So, start getting rid of all those foods high in carbs and sugar out of the pantry. It will make your chances of success much higher!