4 nutritious food ideas for a keto diet
Nowadays, with even young adults falling prey to heart diseases, people have been trying to make some essential changes to their life. Unhealthy eating habits coupled with erroneous lifestyle choices can spell disaster in the long run. Not only does the person gain weight, but also becomes susceptible to multiple serious health conditions. A healthy diet and a regular exercise regime can help you lose weight, but you need to know what exactly to eat.
One of the popular diet plans that has garnered followers in recent times is the keto diet. The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts the body in a state of ketosis, where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. This decreases the fat percentage in the body and helps you in reducing weight.
Adhering to the keto diet involves limiting your carb intake to 20-25 grams per day, and this can be an ordeal if you aren’t sure about what to eat. Before beginning the diet, it is best if you look up healthy food ideas that you can add to it.
- Seafood
You can consume seafood even if you are on a keto diet. In fact, fish and shellfish are keto-friendly foods. You can even include salmon and other fish that are rich in vitamin B, potassium, and selenium to your diet as they are carb-free. The type of shellfish you consume is a vital thing to consider as different types of shellfish contain varied carb content. It is essential to include salmon, sardines, mackerel, and other fatty fish in your diet as they are high in omega-3 fats, and these are known to lower insulin levels and increase insulin sensitivity. - Low-carb vegetables
When you are on the keto diet, it is safe to include non-starchy vegetables to your regimen as they are low in calories and carbs and abundant in several nutrients. Vegetables are filling options as they contain fiber which the body doesn’t digest and absorb like carbs. Moreover, they contain antioxidants that protect against free radicals that are unstable and damage the cells. It is advisable to add cruciferous vegetables like kale, broccoli, and cauliflower as they have immense health benefits and reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. - Avocados
Avocados are quite healthy as they have a high vitamin and mineral content, including potassium, which people do not consume in abundance. In fact, potassium makes the transition to a ketogenic diet easier and faster. Avocados even improve cholesterol and triglyceride levels. - Cheese
People tend to harbor a misconception that cheese is unhealthy. The truth is that cheese is nutritious and comes in a variety of types to choose from. Most of them are quite low in carbs and high in fat, which makes them perfect for the keto diet. Though cheese is high in saturated fat, it doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease and may help to protect against them. Also, cheese contains conjugated linoleic acid, which is a fat that has been linked to weight loss and improves body composition. Eating cheese regularly will even reduce the loss of muscle mass and strength that is associated with aging.