Ketogenic diets can work amazingly well when it comes to losing body fat and keeping blood sugar levels stable. To get into a state of ketosis you need to eliminate carbohydrates from your diet and focus on consuming foods that are high in protein and fat. When your body doesn’t have carbohydrates to produce fuel for you, it turns to burning your stored body fat instead. So what are the top five ketogenic foods? Read on to find out.
Number one: Coconut oil.
When undertaking a low carb diet, many people try to consume more protein than fat. Fats are a major component of any keto diet and coconut oil is an amazing food source to add to it. Too much protein and your body can convert it to sugars and store it as extra body fat which is not the aim of a ketogenic diet. Add a tablespoon of coconut oil to your coffee, drizzle it over your salad or make coconut oil fat bombs. Remove yourself from the mindset that fat makes you fat. It doesn’t.
Number Two: Seafood.
The ocean has a lot to offer when it comes to ketogenic diet foods. You can enjoy generous helpings of fish without worry. If you choose oily fish such as salmon then even better as you are getting a perfect blend of fat vs protein. You can also enjoy prawns, squid, and crab but make sure to remember that these do contain carbs so don’t over indulge on them. Keep dressings to a minimum and try to enjoy the wonderful salty flavor that seafood naturally offers with just a pinch of salt and pepper.
Number Three: Eggs.
Eggs are nature’s all in one ketogenic food source. They contain the perfect blend of protein vs fat and are filled with many of the vitamins and minerals required by the human body to function at its best. Have them boiled, scrambled, devilled, fried, poached, baked or as omelets. Eggs are also ideal as they can be cooked days in advance and taken with you as portable snacks.
Number Four: Meat.
If you are not a vegan then meat is also another ketogenic wonder food. Most meats contain little to no carbohydrates and provide ample amounts of protein helping to keep you satiated for longer. When selecting meat try to avoid processed ones such as ham, bacon and pates etc as these usually have sugar, nitrates and added bulking agents that make them less than ketogenic friendly. Try to make your own bacon or patties using freshly ground meat so that you know they are as pure as possible. With meat, you should remove the skin but try to keep some fat on it as fat is important on a ketogenic diet.
Number Five: Cheese
Cheese is a high-fat content food so should be eaten in moderation. The fat is not the issue, however, the amount of calories contained inside could be. Ketogenic diets do not tend to count calories as carbs are counted instead but too much of anything can lead to hitting plateaus and stalling. Stick to semi-hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Edam and Red Leicestershire and cream cheeses are also allowed. Cheese gives you an adequate amount of calcium which is important for a healthy immune system and bones.