It may seem like everywhere you turn the ketogenic diet, or keto for short, is being hailed as a miracle diet for weight loss and increased energy levels.
Keto is the “it” diet of the moment, but before you decide to jump on the bandwagon yourself, let’s take a look at what this diet is all about.
Keto is an extremely low-carbohydrate diet that replaces carbohydrates with moderate amounts of protein and large quantities of healthy fats. The keto diet was originally developed to help manage seizures in children – really!
Anyone can eat fewer carbs and more fat, but doing so doesn’t necessarily mean you’re following a true ketogenic diet. Keto is one example of a low-carb diet, but not all low-carb diets are ketogenic.
The truth is, there’s a lot of confusion around what constitutes an actual ketogenic diet vs. a high-fat low-carb (HFLC) diet.
Both diets begin with reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing fat intake. So, what’s the difference?
It all boils down to ketosis – a metabolic state where your body uses fat instead of glucose as its main source of energy.
Ketosis is the main goal of a ketogenic diet. Your body prefers glucose as fuel , so the slightest change in daily carbohydrates or protein (yep, the body can make glucose out of protein when there’s enough of it) can shift the body out of ketosis and back to running on glucose.
The exact breakdown of macronutrients needed to keep your body in ketosis varies from person to person because we each have unique metabolisms.
The only way to know whether you’re in ketosis is to monitor your body’s ketone levels (via urine or blood testing strips). If you’re trying keto but not tracking your macronutrient intake and ketone levels, you’re probably following more of a HFLC diet.
A HFLC diet is less strict and focuses more on eliminating unhealthy carbohydrate sources, like refined grains and sugary foods, and including more whole foods, including healthy fats, moderate amounts of protein, some whole grains and fruit, and vegetables.
Whether you choose to follow a HFLC diet or the more rigid ketogenic diet, decreasing carbohydrate intake and increasing fat intake are linked to the following health benefits:
So, what do you think – are YOU ready for the HFLC and/or keto life? Perhaps, just a taste with a a great HFLC- and keto-friendly recipe? Try a spin on an old classic!
Avocado Egg Salad
Ingredients
4 large eggs, free range
1 medium avocado
2 Tbsp real mayonnaise
1 Tbsp each fresh dill and chives, finely chopped
Juice of ½ lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash smoked paprika
Romaine lettuce leaves, for serving
Preparation
REFERENCES
Healthline: The LCHF Diet Plan: A Detailed Beginner’s Guide
The post HFLC vs Keto – What’s the Difference? appeared first on No Limits Fitness.
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