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The Keto Diet

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The Keto diet (or ketogenic diet) was originally developed in the early twentieth century as a way to stimulate the body to burn fats instead of carbohydrates in children with severe epilepsy. In the 1990s, as new studies further supported the theory that the diet reduced seizures, there was renewed scientific interest in Keto.

Food you can eat on the Keto diet

Typically, Keto is an extremely low carb, high fat diet, similar to the Atkins diet. It involves substantially reducing the amount of carbohydrate you eat and replacing that with fat. This puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis which means your body becomes very efficient at burning fat to get its energy, when normally it would get energy from carbohydrates. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which supplies energy for the brain.

Foods which are keto friendly include the following categories:
  • Butter
  • Eggs
  • Fatty meats
  • Low carb vegetables like spinach and other leafy greens
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Oily fish
  • Full fat yogurt
  • Full fat cheeses
Foods to avoid on the keto diet, include:
  • Baked foods like cakes, biscuits
  • Bread
  • Confectionary like chocolate and sweets
  • Fruit juices and fruit smoothies
  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Starchy vegetables like potato, beetroot and legumes
  • Sugar

People do report favourable outcomes in terms of weight loss and improved energy levels although it is often first accompanied with a severe headache as you ‘withdraw’ from the carbohydrates your body is used to.

The reported fat loss from the keto diet is said to be quicker as your body burns fat more efficiently than usual. Plus, because you’re eating foods high in fat, it should eliminate cravings and feelings of hunger.

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