Exactly what is this "ketogenic" diet?

You may have noticed that a lot of my recipes mention this "Ketogenic diet" or "Keto" for short.
For those of you who don't know what this nutritional plan is, it is a high fat, medium protein, low carb diet.

Sounds kind of backwards, right?

This diet is going back to the way people use to eat before the food pyramid made it's appearance.
The food pyramid taught us to focus on carbs as our largest food group, followed by fruit and veggies, then fats.
The food pyramid was introduced in 1974.

The way our grandparents use to cook with lard, fat, and cheese and everything else that now gets labeled fattening and bad for you.

                                           
Our bodies have been trained to use carbs as our energy source. Our bodies burn through carbs so fast that it makes our blood sugar levels go up and down like crazy throughout the day. This is why we need to eat every couple of hours or we get tired and "hangry."

When we cut out carbs and train our body to use fat as an energy source we don't have the roller coaster effect with our blood sugar.

The Ketogenic food pyramid tells us a different story of where we need to be focusing our eating:

We are able to use the fat we take in as energy. And if our body needs more energy than we put in? It uses the fat we already have stored to keep functioning.

Once our body is accustomed to using fat as an energy source, we go into what is called Ketosis.
THAT is where you want to be!

When you are in Ketosis you will have more energy (because you are off the roller coaster), you won't be as hungry as you usually are, you won't feel bloated (carbs are basically just sponges that hold onto water), and you can lose weight!

This is a nutritional plan where you aren't required to restrict what you eat and you don't count calories. Yes, you may eat less, but you will not be starving when you miss a meal.

Many endurance athletes use this diet because they don't have to refuel at all, or as much during their races.

The Ketogenic diet is a great diet for people who are insulin resistant (PCOS, Diabetes type 1 and 2...)

If you want more info about this diet you can read all about it HERE.