Keto Means
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Does coffee break ketosis?

More good news: Coffee and tea don't interfere with fasting perks like ketosis and fat burn, and coffee may even help amplify some of fasting's benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity3 .

Can you have a cheat day on dirty keto?
Can you have a cheat day on dirty keto?

Can You Have a Cheat Day on Keto? Having a cheat day while you're on the keto diet will take you out of the state of ketosis, Fears says. “It can...

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Can I eat salsa on keto?
Can I eat salsa on keto?

Overall, salsa is a Keto friendly food. It is naturally low in carbs, but pay attention to nutrition labels. Many store bought brands add...

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Of course, we know that an all-or-nothing approach isn't always warranted or sustainable—and that there are still plenty of benefits to be had in the territory that lies between a strict water-only fast and eating a full-blown meal.

Some foods maintain many of fasting's benefits—while keeping you sane.

So, many experts say it's OK to consume certain caloric foods in small quantities to help you stick to an intermittent fasting plan. Case in point: To help patients stay happy and compliant with their fast, integrative physician Amy Shah, M.D., allows the consumption of 30 to 40 calories from sources that won't spike blood sugar, like coffee or tea with a splash of unsweetened almond milk. "I call this 'dirty fasting,'" says Shah. "For me, I like to fast as long as possible with just water—that might be 13 or 14 hours of a water fast—then I'll have my tea with almond milk (the start of my 'dirty fast') and end at around 16 hours." Even Horne agrees that some perks of fasting remain with minimal food intake: "One mechanism that is known to remain active when a small amount of food is consumed is ketosis—as long as you consume less than 50 grams of carbohydrates [in a day]," he says. "Some effects, such as the impact of fasting on the gut microbiome, may be different depending on whether it's a water-only fast or a very-low-calorie diet with a small amount of food consumed, but both may provide some level of benefit when compared to eating a standard amount of food."

Integrative dietitian Ali Miller, R.D., appreciates a more flexible approach as well.

"A fast is broken with consumption of food or a caloric substance; however, many people who enjoy the benefits of fasting and want to incorporate it as a daily ritual may take a more flexible approach such as a 'fat fast' using coconut oil, MCT oil, grass-fed butter, or cacao butter blended into a warm liquid during their fasted window." Of course, not everything is on the table. Here, our experts elaborate on a few items that technically have calories (and technically break a fast) but still deliver on many of intermittent fasting's perks:

When soaking beans overnight should they be refrigerated?
When soaking beans overnight should they be refrigerated?

Soaking beans in the refrigerator overnight will reduce the time they have to cook drastically. And the texture of the beans will also be it their...

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What is a low carb juice?
What is a low carb juice?

Vegetable juices are lower in carbs than fruit juices. Almost any variety of 100 percent vegetable juice is a low-carb juice in comparison to fruit...

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What is diabetic finger?
What is diabetic finger?

Diabetics are more susceptible to developing trigger finger. A trigger finger can be stiff and painful with gripping. Later, the finger may lock...

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Does lettuce break a fast?
Does lettuce break a fast?

Other foods allowed during fasting are vegetables, whether fermented or unfermented, sauerkraut, tempeh, lettuce, celery, tomatoes, strawberries,...

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Which beans are keto-friendly?
Which beans are keto-friendly?

Keto-friendly beans On a strict keto diet, your best bet for beans is to choose either green beans or black soybeans. While green beans are...

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Should I be worried if im pooping a lot?
Should I be worried if im pooping a lot?

Get the Care You Need Pooping a lot is not necessarily a problem unless it is associated with pain or prolonged diarrhea. If you are experiencing...

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