8 Ketogenic Foods That Can Help You Lose Weight Quickly
If you're looking for the most hard core low-carb diet of all the low-carb diets, the ketogenic diet is it.
The trendy ketogenic diet, which reportedly has fans like Lebron James and Kim Kardashian, reduces your daily carb intake to 35 grams or less, depending on the plan you follow. That's about the amount in one large apple for the whole day.
The theory behind the ketogenic plan is that when your body doesn't have any carbs to use as energy, your liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketones. Then those ketones are used as a primary energy source by your body (meaning you burn more fat each day), says Jim White, R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and owner of Jim White Fitness & Nutrition Studios in Virginia. That whole process is called ketosis.
While, in a pinch, ketones can replace carbs as your body’s primary energy source, it often comes at a price. Ketosis can cause side effects like constipation, fatigue, brain fog, and possible nutritional deficiencies, White says.
Obviously, we don't recommend any unsustainable eating plan that seriously restricts important nutrients like carbs. However, incorporating certain keto-friendly foods that are rich in protein and healthy fats into a well-rounded diet can get you to your pounds-dropping goals faster. That's because these eats help you build more lean muscle, prevent blood sugar highs and lows, and keep cravings at bay.
Almonds and walnuts tend to get all of the healthy glory, but macadamia nuts are a great source of monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, and fiber, all of which can translate to improved blood sugar control, White says. They're also rich in energy-boosting B vitamins including thiamine, which can help you crush every fat-blasting workout that comes your way.