Keto Means
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What's the difference between keto and low carb?

A ketogenic diet highly restricts carbohydrate intake, and it's purposely high in fat, explained, while a low-carb diet focuses on moderate protein and moderate fat. Staying on track with a new diet can be challenging. Here are some tips that may help you adhere to a low-carb or keto diet.

How long should you stay in ketosis?
How long should you stay in ketosis?

While some people have success staying on keto for an extended period of time, “the long-term research is limited,” says Jill Keene, RDN, in White...

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Why am I gaining weight on low-carb diet?
Why am I gaining weight on low-carb diet?

You're not cutting back enough If you're eating a low carb diet and your weight starts to plateau, you might want to further reduce the number of...

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What Is a Low-Carb Diet?

Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are known as macronutrients — they provide calories for the body and are needed in larger amounts than micronutrients, which are primarily vitamins and minerals. Many eating plans, including keto and low-carb, involve emphasizing or restricting certain macronutrients. "Technically, any eating style recommending less than 45% of calories from carbs can be considered low carb," Nisevich Bede began, "but many research studies home in on approximately 10% to 25% of calories coming from carbs." A low-carb eating plan replaces the calories you'd normally get from carbs with protein-rich foods and certain fats. While the exact distribution of calories varies from plan to plan and person to person, an example of a low-carb macronutrient breakdown might include 10% to 25% of calories from carbs, 40% to 50% from protein, and 30% to 40% from fats. The emphasis on protein provides you with energy and supports appetite control and muscle health. "Some of the protein in the diet may be used to make glucose for energy," she explained. "If you're on a lower-calorie plan, watch out for signs of fatigue or muscle soreness."

How Is the Keto Diet Different From Other Low-Carb Diets?

While Nisevich Bede noted that people tend to use the terms interchangeably, the keto diet is very different than traditional low-carb diets in terms of its macronutrient breakdown. It requires you to get 5% to 10% of your calories from carbs, 15% to 30% from protein, and at least 70% to 80% from fat — that's nearly twice as much fat and half as many carbs as what typical low-carb diets recommend. "A ketogenic diet highly restricts carbohydrate intake, and it's purposely high in fat," she explained, "while a low-carb diet focuses on moderate protein and moderate fat." The keto diet outlined here is for the general consumer and is not therapeutic, she continued, with the ultimate goal being to promote ketosis — a natural metabolic process in which the body burns fat for fuel. Ketosis begins once the body's glycogen stores are depleted.

How to Decide Which Eating Style Is Right for You

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How long does it take to lose weight on dirty keto?
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Final thoughts on keto and weight loss Generally, you'll need to adhere to a caloric deficit of around 500 calories per day. At this rate, you...

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