Keto Means
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk Pexels Logo Photo: Pavel Danilyuk

What carbs are OK for keto?

Most Ketogenic diet guidelines recommend you stay between 15 - 30g of net carbohydrates per day, or 5-10% of total calories. In general, if you're a very active person who exercises 4 to 5 times a week, you're more likely to be able to consume more carbohydrates and stay in ketosis.

Can you still lose weight on low carb without ketosis?
Can you still lose weight on low carb without ketosis?

If you're simply eating low-carb but your goal is not to be in ketosis, you can still lose weight. This is especially true if most of the carbs...

Read More »
How do I drop 20 pounds fast?
How do I drop 20 pounds fast?

Here are the 10 best ways to quickly and safely drop 20 pounds. Count calories. ... Drink more water. ... Increase your protein intake. ... Reduce...

Read More »

One of the core principles of the Ketogenic diet is keeping carbohydrate intake extremely low – less than 50 grams per day. The purpose of keeping carbs low is so that your body has to switch to using fat as the primary energy source instead of glucose from carbohydrates. Fat is a very energy-dense molecule, and some of that energy is converted into ketones. Ketones can be used by most of the cells in your body for energy instead of glucose. When your body switches to using fat and ketones as the primary energy source, you’re in a state of nutritional ketosis. But that doesn’t mean you have to (or would even want to) completely remove all carbs from your diet. After all, Keto isn't meant to be a zero carb diet. In this Keto Beginners Series, we’re going to talk about the types of carbohydrate foods that fit best into the low carb, high fat Ketogenic diet. How Many Carbs Can You Have on Keto? Everyone has slightly different levels of carbohydrate restriction on the Ketogenic diet. Some people can get away with eating more and stay in ketosis, while others may need to be more restrictive. Most Ketogenic diet guidelines recommend you stay between 15 - 30g of net carbohydrates per day, or 5-10% of total calories. Net carbohydrates = Total Carbohydrates - fiber - sugar alcohols In general, if you’re a very active person who exercises 4 to 5 times a week, you’re more likely to be able to consume more carbohydrates and stay in ketosis. But if you live a sedentary lifestyle and are overweight, we encourage you to keep carb intake on the lower end to ensure you achieve a state of ketosis. Carbohydrates to Avoid on the Ketogenic Diet There are certain foods that contain extremely high amounts of carbohydrates and will need to be avoided in order to achieve and maintain ketosis. During your Ketogenic journey, avoid high-carbohydrate foods including: Most fruits, pasta, potatoes, candy bars, pastries, donuts, candy, soda, juice, rice, and bread. List of Carbs You Can Consume on Keto Now that you understand which foods should be avoided entirely, let’s talk about the best Ketogenic-friendly carb sources you can still incorporate into your diet plan. Some of the foods listed below still contain some carbohydrates, so it’s best to be sure to read labels and carefully track your intake so you don’t overdo it, especially if you’re a beginner. #1. Cocoa Powder and Dark Chocolate Cocoa powder and dark chocolate are great alternatives to eating sugary chocolate bars. They’re a great source of antioxidants. Chocolate is even considered a “superfood,” because it contains essential nutrients to help you stay healthy. Dark chocolate also has flavanols, which have been linked to reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering your blood pressure. It’s important to only consume dark chocolate that contains 85% cocoa or more. Anything less usually contains other higher carbohydrate ingredients that could potentially interrupt ketosis.[*] Tip: A great low-carb snack you can make with cocoa powder or dark chocolate is a Keto Coconut-choc Fat Bombs. Simply add cocoa powder into a bowl with almond butter and coconut oil and put it in the microwave or heat on a stovetop and stir until it becomes a consistent liquid. Then place it in the freezer for half an hour and you'll have a tasty, sweet low-carb snack! Add a little stevia if you need a little more sweetness. Read about more Keto snack ideas here. #2. Low-Carb Vegetables Vegetables store sugar in the form of starch. Non-starchy vegetables store less sugar, so they are low in starch and carbohydrates. They are also low in calories, high in fiber, and nutrient-dense, making them the perfect Keto-friendly carb source. Many non-starchy veggies contain high amounts of fiber, which is a carbohydrate itself. However, fiber doesn’t break down into glucose, or sugar, in your digestive system like other carbohydrates do, so the fiber doesn’t count toward your carbohydrate limits! This fact about fiber becomes important when reading labels because fiber is included in the grams of total carbs. Remember, take total carbs – fiber to determine how many carbs in the food count towards your carbohydrate goal. You can consume large amounts of the following low-carb veggies on Keto: Kale

Can you eat peas and sweetcorn on keto?
Can you eat peas and sweetcorn on keto?

Legumes, corn and quinoa Although they all grow above ground, legumes like peas, beans and lentils are all fairly high in carbs, as are grains like...

Read More »
How do you detox your body from sugar?
How do you detox your body from sugar?

7 tips to detox from sugar Eat breakfast. Eating breakfast with proteins, complex carbohydrates, fiber-rich foods, and healthy fats can keep blood...

Read More »

Spinach

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Zucchini

Brussel’s sprouts Veggies that grow above ground tend to be non-starchy and low in carbs (there are some exceptions - always check nutritional information in the Carb Manager app). #3. Avocados Avocados should be a staple in everyone’s Ketogenic diet. They are high in essential vitamins and minerals including potassium and magnesium, and are a great source of monounsaturated fat. Avocados make the Keto-adaptation phase much easier, because you replenish your body with the essential minerals it excretes during the initial fat-adaptation stage. One avocado only contains about 2-3g of net carbs per serving, making it the perfect Ketogenic-approved fruit! #4. Berries Most other fruits are too high in carbohydrates, so they’ll mostly need to be avoided. Berries are the one exception. Berries are both low in carbs and high in fiber. These fruits are packed with antioxidants that have been shown to provide anti-inflammatory effects and protect against disease.[*] Remember, they still have some carbs, so try to keep your berry consumption in moderation.

Which is a better carb rice or potatoes?
Which is a better carb rice or potatoes?

Carb Content in Rice and Potatoes Because they come in many varieties and have different nutritional values, the carb content will also vary. For...

Read More »
How many carbs should I eat a day to get into ketosis?
How many carbs should I eat a day to get into ketosis?

50 grams Most people will need to go under 50 grams per day to reach ketosis. Keep in mind that this doesn't leave you with many carb options —...

Read More »
Does sweating make you look younger?
Does sweating make you look younger?

Sweat acts as a skin purifier. It helps you get rid of impurities and dirt and opens up the pores. This enables your skin to get a fresh dose of...

Read More »
Why is rice better than bread?
Why is rice better than bread?

Whether you should choose rice or bread depends on your nutritional goals, as rice provides more vitamins and minerals but bread is lower in...

Read More »