The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Keto Diet

Starting the keto diet can indeed feel like a daunting endeavor, given its rising popularity and numerous benefits. Similar to weight loss meals, it's a low-carb, high-fat diet that can help you lose weight, lower your blood sugar levels, and even reduce inflammation. But starting on a keto diet meal plan can be overwhelming. How do you know what foods to eat? How do you ensure you get enough nutrients while keeping your carb intake low? Don’t worry—we’ve got all the information you need to get started on a successful keto diet. 

Understand the Basics of Keto 

Before we jump into what foods to eat and how to plan meals, let's cover some basic information about the keto meal delivery plan. This type of eating plan aims to put your body into a state called "ketosis.” This means that your body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. To achieve this state, you must keep your carb intake very low—less than 50 grams per day—while also making sure that you consume sufficient amounts of healthy fats and proteins. 

What's the Difference Between Different Keto Diets? 

Having all the information is critical in making a well-informed decision about your health. Let's break down and compare the most popular types of Keto Diets to understand their distinctions.

Standard Keto Diet

The Standard Keto Diet is the most popular type of ketogenic diet. It involves eating a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet that puts your body into a state of ketosis, which helps your body burn fat more efficiently. This diet is typically recommended for people who want to lose weight quickly and healthily.

High Protein Keto

The High Protein Keto Diet aims to increase protein intake while maintaining a low carb count and high-fat ratio like other keto diets. This diet can be beneficial for people looking to build muscle mass but not necessarily interested in lifting weights or engaging in intense physical activity. However, it will require careful planning as protein can easily kick you out of ketosis if consumed too much too often, so those looking at this style should be careful about their daily ratios!

Dirty Keto

In contrast with the standard Keto Diet, Dirty Keto focuses more on processed snacks such as bacon-wrapped jalapeños poppers than wholesome foods like fish, eggs, nuts, and vegetables while maintaining a comparable carb/fat/protein ratio. While this form may work short-term if done right - we wouldn't recommend going down this path due to the health risks associated with eating highly processed food over long periods!

Keto For Beginners: How to Achieve Ketosis

Achieving ketosis is all about recognizing the proportions of macronutrients (or "macros") you consume daily. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates are the three crucial macros in your diet as a human being. On a ketogenic diet specifically, your daily macro ratio should be:

• 75% fat

• 20% protein

• 5% carbs

Pay close attention to what you consume! This insight allows one to experience remarkable health advantages through an optimized dietary lifestyle.

It's a fact: 75% of what you eat each day contains fat, an essential macronutrient that the body needs to survive. Fat helps keep cravings away while ensuring you feel satiated and full and allowing your body to enter ketosis. Without it, achieving optimal health would be impossible!

After following your macronutrient ratio, entering a state of ketosis is possible within as little as two days or up to one week, depending on an individual's existing glycogen storage, body type, and exercise regime. So what does this mean for you? You can start experiencing the incredible benefits of ketosis after just seven days!

What Is the Keto Flu and How To Avoid It

Starting keto diet is becoming increasingly popular for its ability to help you lose weight quickly. But, some experience what's known as the 'keto flu' when they start the diet. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and brain fog.

Fortunately, you can do a few things to avoid this dreaded side-effect of keto. One way is to ensure you're getting enough electrolytes into your system. So make sure you're drinking lots of fluids, particularly those with electrolytes like coconut water or mineral water, and adding salts to your food where possible.

Eating moderate amounts of healthy fat can also help ease the transition into ketosis, ensuring you won't feel so overwhelmed with trying the new diet. Ultimately, listening to your body and taking it slow will be your best strategy to set yourself up for success and avoid the keto flu!

Plan Your Meals 

Once you understand the basics of the keto diet, it’s time to start planning your meals. The key here is balance; to stay in ketosis, you must ensure that your macronutrient ratios are correct.

That means getting 75-85% of your calories from fats (like avocados, nuts, and olive oil), 10-20% from protein (such as chicken or fish), and 5-10% from carbs (like leafy greens). A good rule of thumb is to aim for 20-30 grams of net carbs per day; this includes fiber but not sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners like sucralose or stevia.  

Avoid Restrictive Eating Habits  

It’s important not to be too restrictive when it comes to eating on the keto diet. While it may seem counterintuitive at first, adding more healthy fats to your meals can help speed up weight loss by keeping you feeling full for longer and providing essential energy sources for workouts or daily activities.

Remember to incorporate plenty of non-starchy veggies into each meal! This will provide vitamins and minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are often lacking in a low-carb lifestyle.  

Setting Yourself Up for Success on the Keto Diet!

• The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that can help with weight loss, blood sugar levels, and inflammation.

• The goal of the keto diet is to put your body into a state of ketosis, which means that your body burns fat for energy instead of carbs.

• There are three main types of keto diets: standard, high protein, and dirty. 

• Achieving ketosis is all about consuming the right proportions of macronutrients every day. The ideal ratio is 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbs. 

• It's possible to enter a state of ketosis within two days or up to one week by following the proper macronutrient ratio and eating healthy fats. 

• Some people experience the 'keto flu' when they start the diet. Still, it can be avoided by drinking fluids with electrolytes, eating moderate amounts of healthy fat, and listening to your body.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, starting the keto diet offers a promising path to achieving your health and wellness goals. By understanding the fundamental principles of the diet, including the concept of ketosis and the importance of macronutrient ratios, you can embark on a successful keto journey. Remember, there are different variations of the keto diet, each with its own benefits and considerations. Choosing the one that aligns with your goals and preferences will set you on the right track. Order your Keto Meal Delivery Plan from Clean Eatz Kitchen to get started!

FAQ

What is a keto diet, and how does it work?

A keto (ketogenic) diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan designed to shift your body into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates, leading to weight loss and potential health benefits.

How do I prepare for starting a keto diet?

Before starting, educate yourself about the diet's principles, food choices, and potential challenges. Clean out your pantry of high-carb foods and stock up on keto-friendly ingredients such as meats, eggs, dairy, nuts, and non-starchy vegetables.

How can I avoid keto flu and stay hydrated?

Increase your water intake and consider consuming beverages with added electrolytes. Incorporate sodium, potassium, and magnesium-rich foods to maintain electrolyte balance.

How long should I stay on a keto diet?

The duration of a keto diet varies. Some people follow it for weight loss and transition to a balanced diet afterward. Others may adopt it as a long-term lifestyle. Listen to your body and adjust your approach accordingly.