6 Fundamental Principles Every Keto Diet Beginner Needs To Know • love beauty thrive

The ketogenic (keto) diet is the latest trend in taking charge of your health.

If you want to lose weight, be healthier, and build confidence (changing your entire life), then the keto diet may be right for you.

Many people have been incredibly successful in achieving a healthy weight and healing their bodies by embracing the keto lifestyle.

We’ve listed for you the 6 fundamental principles that every keto diet beginner needs to know.

These principles are just the tip of the keto iceberg. Do your research and talk to your doctor to see what’s best for your health.

Get ready for a healthier, happier you!

THE KETO DIET

The keto lifestyle involves eating a high fat, low carb, and moderate protein diet. In contrast to most diet plans (and much of what we’ve been taught about health and nutrition), eating keto means eating a lot of fat – likely much more than you ever have.

WHAT TO AVOID

While the keto diet is high fat, it is also low carb. Avoid foods that are high in sugar (processed sweets/treats), grains and starches, starchy vegetables (e.g., potatoes and corn), most fruit (but not all), and legumes.

BURN FAT, NOT SUGAR

Eating keto shifts your body into nutritional ketosis. In its simplest terms, nutritional ketosis is a metabolic state where your body utilizes and burns fat (ketones) instead of sugar (carbs/glucose) as its primary energy source (allowing you to lose weight).

NOT JUST A WEIGHT LOSS ‘DIET’

While many people are incredibly successful losing weight (effortlessly) on the keto diet, weight loss is just one of its many potential health benefits. Improved mood/thoughts, great sleep, increased energy, reduced cravings, and better digestion are all also attributed to the keto diet.

Research shows that a keto lifestyle may also be therapeutic for many chronic health problems. These include diabetes, heart disease, cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, mental health conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression), among many others.

NUTRITIONAL KETOSIS IS NOT DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS

Nutritional ketosis is not to be confused with diabetic ketoacidosis (a common misconception).

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous, life threatening condition faced by those with unmanaged diabetes. It is a serious medical emergency, and is not the same thing as nutritional ketosis.

Nutritional ketosis (as a result of a keto diet) is a natural and safe metabolic state.

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO KETO

The keto diet can easily be adapted to suit your specific needs and lifestyle. From a strict, traditional keto approach, to highly restricted or more lenient carbohydrates, to more or less dairy, to whole foods/paleo focused. Set yourself up for success by carefully choosing what is best for you (talk to your doctor).