6 Tips for Keto Diet Beginners
Keto diet can sound confusing when you are starting out which is why we have compiled a list o diet tips that can help you go in the right direction. Don’t forget to discuss your new diet with your doctor especially if you are on medications for some condition.
Increase Healthy Fats
The keto diet emphasizes eating healthy fats instead of consuming loads of carbohydrates. In the diet, you are supposed to get about 60% of your calories from these healthy fats. The best sources of healthy fats include fish, cheese, nuts, and eggs. You can get healthy fats from oils of avocado and olive. When you feel hungry between meals, it can indicate that the amount of healthy fats you are consuming is not sufficient.
Balance Your Protein Intake
Protein is important to transport amino acids to your liver. Eating too little or too much protein is not going to benefit you when you are on a keto diet. If you consume less protein, you will notice that you are losing your muscle mass. If you are consuming a little too much protein, ketosis won’t take place. You should aim for anywhere between 20% and 30% protein consumption per day in your diet.
Lower Carbs
The key in the keto diet is to eat low carbohydrates, but that isn’t equal to zero carbohydrates. Ketosis will be achieved when you limit your carb consumption but some amount of carbs should be there. You should ensure you are eating lots of vegetables such as peppers, spinach, kale, mushrooms, and asparagus. These will ensure you are getting the fiber, and vitamins, and minerals that you need.
Don’t Forget to Have Water
When you are starting your keto diet, it is particularly important to have lots of water. You want to stay hydrated at all times. If it is a hot day or if you have worked out, you should consume more water. When there isn’t enough water in your body initially, it can lead to several problems including cravings and constipation.
Opt for Keto-friendly Snacks
If you feel hungry in-between meals, opt for keto-friendly snacks instead of eating whatever’s stocked up in your kitchen. You can have kale chips, hard-boiled eggs, parmesan crisps, and a trail mix. You can have macadamia nuts, coconut chips, and almonds with cheddar cheese. Don’t overdo the snacking and limit to one snack per day otherwise, you can easily gain weight.
Planning Can Prevent Cheating
Sometimes, the temptations are there because you have food in your house that you have easy access to. What you can do is sit down and plan what you are going to eat tomorrow, the day after that, and so on. When you plan, it will give you a framework to follow each day and you won’t end up cheating and messing up your diet. Even when you are traveling, you should plan what you will eat.