What Is The Keto Diet and 9 Reasons You Should Consider Trying It.

You probably know ten people doing this diet - here's why you should try it, and how to do it right.

The keto diet (or ketogenic, formally) is a low carb, high fat diet that has gotten some serious attention lately. It's rapidly grown in popularity since 2017 and now celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, Al Roker, Vanessa Hudgens and Tim Tebow are endorsing the diet for it easy implementation and accessibility, not to mention its incredible weight loss effects.

Essentially, the goal of this diet is to drastically reduce carbohydrates to about 5% of your daily macronutrients and instead consume more fat. Why, you ask? Because carbohydrates are converted into glucose, which is either used for energy through natural movement and exercise or stored as excess body fat. By depriving your body of glucose, and instead, providing it with healthy fats, your body will convert to burning fat for energy. This fat-burning metabolic state, called ketosis, usually leads to increased energy and weight loss. 

Should you try the keto diet? 

We say give it a shot! There's plenty of evidence showing the benefits of making the switch from a sugar-burner to a fat-burner. Here's why:

1. Kill Cravings

Eating more healthy fats inherently reduces your appetite. The satiating effects of a high-fat diet turns off cravings. Without the drastic rise and fall of blood sugar that usually results after eating a high-carb meal, your blood sugar will remain balanced and you will experience less cravings for sugary and carb-heavy foods.

2. Increase Energy

Circulation of ketones in the blood stream contributes to feelings of alertness, so we like to say that eating Keto is like "Brain Fuel". 

3. Eat What You Love

Who wouldn't love to eat bacon, eggs and crispy roasted veggies while "on a diet"?! There are tons of resources available for keto recipes that you'll actually want to eat. Gone are the days of bland grilled chicken and broccoli for every meal. Now you can enjoy delicious, satisfying, hearty meals while still reaching your diet goals. 

4. Convenient

With tons of products on the market, like PowerCreamer, it's no longer a hassle to stick to your meal plans when you're in a time crunch or you're not at home. You can easily eat keto anywhere, even while out to eat or traveling on-the-go. Just don't be afraid to ask for exactly what you want when ordering. Food chains like Chipotle and Starbucks are even creating custom "keto" menu items to accommodate their health-conscious customers.

5. Increase Levels of HDL 

High-density lipo-proteins are what you've heard of as the "good" cholesterol. They transport excess LDL out of the bloodstream which would otherwise be oxidized and trigger an inflammatory response. With low HDL levels, you run the risk of plaque building up in your arteries.

6. Stabilize Blood Sugar and Reduce Insulin Levels

Eating a low-carb diet, one that does not spike glycemic levels, will stabilize blood sugar levels and may possibly reverse type 2 diabetes! 

7. Reduce Inflammation

With fat as the fuel source, ketones actually quiet the inflammation response. Inflammation is actually the root cause of many chronic diseases, so targeting this problem will undoubtedly improve your health.

8. Burn Fat... Lose Weight

When your body begins using fat as its fuel source, you will naturally begin to shed excess pounds, as the stored fat cells become depleted. 

9. Clean Up Your Diet

Eating keto inherently eliminates foods such as gluten, corn, soy, refined sugars and processed carbs. Simply eliminating refined grains, wheat and sugar will put you on a path to optimum health. 

To start this lifestyle right, focus on high-quality fats and proteins and include plenty of vegetables. We recommend a whole-foods, plant-heavy Keto Diet to ensure you're receiving optimal vitamins and nutrients. Sure it's easy now-a-days to order a "keto-friendly" meal at a fast-food chain, but utilize those meals only when you're in a bind. Aim for nutrient-dense meals with tons of vegetables, quality proteins, and of course, healthy fats.

Our go-to picks include:

• Grass-fed ghee (blend it up in your coffee for a Keto PowerLatte)
• Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, MCT Oil and Avocado Oil
• Wild-caught fish, Grass-fed beef, Organic chicken
• Avocados, nuts and seeds
• Nut butters
• Leafy green vegetables
• Riced cauliflower
• Cucumbers, celery, radishes, etc.
• Flax, chia and hemp seeds

And remember... in order for any diet to actually "work", it must be sustainable as a lifelong way of eating. We think keto is here to stay and look forward to bringing you more products to keep you healthy and happy for a lifetime.