What is Keto?

 

There is a significant amount of information out there regarding Ketogenic diets. Some is amazing and some is downright concerning! We wanted to get straight to the point about what a Ketogenic Diet is!What is a Standard Australian Diet (SAD)? What are the benefits? and lastly, what is our aim? 

 

Over the last 50 or so years we have been told to eat a predominately carbohydrate heavy diet, moderate protein and low fat diet. This was considered a healthy diet. What we have seen is an increase in heart disease, an obesity epidemic, an increase in chronic disease and Cancer rates over a relatively short amount of time. Obviously this diet is not working, it is not supported by science but they are still pushing this approach.

Ketosis is a normal metabolic state in which the body switches from using glucose (due to a reduction in carb intake) to using fats in the form of ketones for energy. Ketones are produced in our livers through a process called ketogenesis. 

We will talk about the nitty gritty of ketones later on! 

Whilst in ketosis our blood sugar levels will generally stay stable due to a process called gluconeogenesis, the creation of glucose from non-glucose sources. This is important as some cells do require glucose for energy such as red blood cells due to their lack of mitochondria.

 

• Protein- Approximately 20-30% of calories should come from protein.

• Carbohydrates- 20-70g or 10-20% of calories from carbohydrate per day. It is important to note that some individuals can achieve ketosis at 50g of carbs, where others need to restrict their carbohydrate intake a lot more. The SAD recommended 200-300g of carbohydrate per day, and we wonder why we have a problem!

• Fat- 60-80% of calories should come from good quality fat

• Increased energy levels. Our cells thrive on ketones as an energy source.

• Fat loss! on a ketogenic diet you will generally see the weight reduce whilst maintaining muscle mass

• Anti-inflammatory- ketogenic and paleo diets are naturally anti-inflammatory. As disease is driven by inflammation it only makes sense to decrease inflammation in the body.

• Increase in athletic performance. Many endurance athletes thrive on a ketogenic diet. 

• A ketogenic diet shows many benefits for type 2 diabetics in that studies have shown a decrease in insulin levels, stabilised blood glucose levels and improved cholesterol levels.

 

Well first and foremost, we wanted to provide amazing tasting, organic and free-range wholefood meals. We wanted to focus on “Food as Medicine” with all our meals as well as supporting gut health and ensuring high nutrient intake. All our meals are macro and micro-nutrient balanced to ensure they fall into a ketogenic category whilst providing essential vitamins and minerals.

Diet and lifestyle are the most important factors for our health and wellbeing with the WHO (world health organisation) reporting that 70% of all chronic disease are due to poor lifestyle and diet factors! With this said it only makes sense the our stress levels, environmental toxin exposure, exercise and diets should be important factors that we take into consideration when looking at improving our health, not only today but for the future!

 

xx

Abbie