How do i start the keto diet – Here you are, contemplating a major shift in your diet and lifestyle, a shift towards keto. If you’re here, you’ve probably read tons of articles, watched a ton of youtube videos, and even consulted some friends and experts.
In this article, we’re going to guide you on how to correctly and effectively enter ketosis from the perspective of your kitchen. Without a solid food plan, switching to ketosis can easily be discouraging.
After all, you aren’t just changing the food on your plate, you’re rewiring the fundamental way your body functions in a profound way
Today, more and more people are making the shift to a low carb, high-fat lifestyle. how do i start the keto diet the revolution is sweeping the globe and the results are in. if done correctly, the switch to a ketone and fat-based metabolism brings with it a new level of health and wellness.
Outside of staving off common metabolic ailments like diabetes and hypertension, keto has been shown to boost function and performance, making you leaner, cleaner and mentally sharper than ever before.
The path to ketosis isn’t so cut-and-dried. Like we said, without a proper plan, you can find it tricky to nail the balance and successfully cross the verge between carbs and fat.
In fact, if done incorrectly and under the wrong conditions, an attempt at ketosis can rather result in a bad condition, ketoacidosis, but more on that in another article…
For now, we want to guide you on the journey towards a successful keto kitchen restock. How do i start the keto diet having the right foods and ingredients on hand can really help in getting through the initial stages.
This is what will make or break your success. So without further ado, let's get straight into it!
The Keto Kitchen: How to get started
Before you jump in your joggers and feel that all too familiar rush of a purpose-driven grocery drive (we know you know how awesome it feels), you need to start at home first.
Outside of knowing what to stock up on, you first need to know what to get rid of. You might be thinking the obvious at this point, just get rid of all the sweets, candy, bread and pasta right? Well, only just a bit.
See, the thing is, when it comes to keto, even some of the healthiest, most wholesome foods can act as a roadblock to your path to ketosis.
Sure you should get rid of the usual suspects, but you will need to delve deeper, deep into the deepest recesses of your fridge and pantry.
Keto Kitchen: What to Avoid
Perhaps you love to snack on carrots, bananas, onions and sweet potatoes. You probably enjoy crunching down on handfuls of cashews and pistachios while kicking back with a mug of beer and enjoying Saturday night’s game.
We’re gonna have to tell you it's time to step away.
These foods, while generally considered healthy, (maybe except for the beer) sit very low on the scale of “keto-friendly”.
That's because these foods have very high carb contents and glycemic index readings.
Here’s a list of what you need to avoid for success in keto:
Vegetables
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
- Onions
- Pumpkin
- Parsnip
- Beetroot
- Celeriac
Fruits
- Bananas
- Apples
- Grapes
- Mangos
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Most dried fruit
Nuts
- Pine
- Pistachio
- Cashew
Drinks
- Wine
- Beer
- Fruit juice
- Soda
- Ice Tea
- Energy drinks
- Fruit smoothies
We haven’t listed the obvious culprits like candy, desserts, bread, pasta and pastries since you should have already anticipated those as big no-nos.
It is important to proceed with caution, even with some things that are generally considered okay or even healthy.
Keto Kitchen: What to Include:
Well, now you can slap on your shopping joggers, but before you head out, grab a pen and notepad. It's time to transform your shopping list!
Just as you want to get rid of all the high carb foods you were hanging onto, you also want to set your sights on the lowest of low carb foods with a high-fat content of course.
So here’s a list of what you should be looking to add to your shopping cart, and your fridge/freezer.
Vegetables
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Cabbage
- Kale
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Olives
- Avocado
Fruits
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
Nuts
- Brazil
- Macadamia
- Pecan
Drinks
- Water
- diet/sugar-free sodas
- Sugar-free energy/sports drinks
- Vegetable smoothies
- Vegetable juices
- Sugar-free tea and coffee
How do i start the keto diet these foods and drinks are a sure-fire basis for a good keto diet approach. A lot of these are easy substitutes for other high carb foods.
For example, sugar-free sodas very closely resemble the taste of the sugary versions.
Some foods, however, will take some getting used to. A vegetable smoothie isn’t quite the same a pineapple/mango berry blast!
Final Considerations
Aside from the foods listed above, there are some other foods that are important to include.
Meat
Most, if not all meats, are keto-friendly. Meat by nature is mostly just fat and protein with a very low carb content which can only really rise based on how it’s prepared.
When considering which meat to consume for keto, the decision really rests on your preferences from a meat perspective.
How do i start the keto diet you might be one who avoids all red meat, poultry and fish are your go-to options, you might even take it a step further and rely on a pescatarian diet, which means only fish and seafood as your meat options.
It is important to remember that keto is a fat-based diet, so as counter-intuitive as this might sound, avoid the leaner meats. Good options include pork and fatty fish. Keeping the skin/rind on your cuts also helps.
Dairy
Dairy products are also fantastic components to a keto lifestyle. Dairy products are typically high in fat and very low in carbs.
The purest form of dairy is milk, but unlike the rest of the dairy entourage, milk comes packing a reasonable amount of carbs in the form of lactose and galactose.
That being the case, use coconut milk or sugar almond milk.
Your best bet with dairy is to stick to the high-fat products such as heavy cream, cheese, cream cheese, full cream yogurt and grass fedbutter.
Don't forget to check out our recipes and products so you can put your new keto-adapted food list to the best possible use!
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