Starting New Way of Eating - Intro to Keto

photo from KetoDietApp.com

KETO - WTF is that?!?!

I think I have mentioned this before, when Nutrisystem is done, I am going to eat low carb. I am diabetic and would love to get off the medication that I take for this. I have done alot of research and a low carb diet is my best bet. After looking at different options for a low carb diet, I have decided to try a Ketogenic Diet (Keto).

What is this, you may say...


According to the FAQ section of The Nourished Caveman, it is a way of eating which aims to induce nutritional ketosis (a metabolic state where you burn fats instead of sugar) by restricting carbohydrate intake and balancing daily amounts of fat and protein.A Ketogenic diet is NOT a high protein diet. It is a high fat, low carb, moderate protein diet. On the blog called Ruled Me, it is stated that the Keto Diet is a diet that’s been around for well over 100 years. This is a diet that’s very well known for being low-carb, where the body is forced into a state called ketosis and essentially uses fat as the primary fuel source. Medically, it has been used to treat a myriad of disease and ailments including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, neurological disease, and even cancer. Scientifically speaking, it has been around for millions of years, and was the way we ate to evolve as a species, becoming the people we are today.

How does it work...

Again, from The Nourished Caveman:

Our body is designed to use different kind of fuels for energy but some fuels are more efficient than others. We are taught that glucose is the main source of energy in the body, but when we withdraw it, our body activates an ancient, dormant genetic program called ketosis. In ketosis the body uses fats instead of glucose for fuel. That means both dietary fats and stored body fats are burned. Ketones are small molecules used as a source of energy in a state of ketosis. When you are in ketosis you do not depend on glucose and insulin for energy, so your energy levels are very steady. You will find yourself having more energy than you have ever experienced, without those crashing moments, like after a heavy meal or mid-afternoon. Ketosis also reduces inflammation, sometimes completely eliminating chronic pain. Ketosis helps heal your digestive system, minimizing the symptoms of heartburn, GERD, irritable bowel and more. Being in ketosis greatly reduces or completely eliminates sugar and carb cravings, making it much easier to stick to your food plan. Other benefits are lowering the risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and much more.

I am diabetic so a low carb diet should help, I have never really understood when people who are diabetic are told to eat carbs... that never made sense to me. The other reason is research is showing that a very low carb diet can help with "starving" cancer... I know my cancer is gone (supposedly) but it wouldn't hurt, right?!?!

When I start the new way of eating, I will be showing other resources and blogs that expound on this way of eating. Hubby is also going to do this, possibly moving more toward a PALEO approach...

Stay Tuned!