The ketogenic diet, or keto, is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that has been used for centuries to treat specific medical conditions. It has gained popularity as a weight-loss strategy due to its effectiveness in producing rapid weight loss. However, there are several versions of the keto diet, and it can be challenging to determine which one is best. This paragraph will introduce the topic of which keto is best by reviews and provide an overview of the different types of keto diets, their potential benefits, and the criteria for evaluating their effectiveness.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Ranking in Best Diets Overall | 25 |
Ranking in Best Plant-Based Diets | 20 |
Ranking in Best Fast Weight-Loss Diets | 1 |
Ranking in Best Diets for Bone and Joint Health | 17 |
Ranking in Best Family-Friendly Diets | 18 |
Ranking in Best Weight-Loss Diets | 9 |
Ranking in Best Heart-Healthy Diets | 18 |
Ranking in Best Diabetes Diets | 8 |
Ranking in Best Diets for Healthy Eating | 23 |
Ranking in Easiest Diets to Follow | 19 |
Best keto meal delivery service overall | Pete's Real Food |
Best keto meal kits for families | Home Chef |
Best vegan keto meal delivery | Fresh N Lean |
Best meat subscription for keeping keto | ButcherBox |
What You'll Learn
Best keto meal delivery services
Starting a keto diet can be confusing and stressful. Fortunately, there are many keto meal delivery services that can help you get started. Here are some of the best keto meal delivery services:
Factor 75
Factor offers a keto meal delivery plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that are low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats. Their meals are made with mostly organic, non-GMO ingredients and are free from gluten, soy, and artificial preservatives. Factor's keto meals are also designed to be low in calories to aid in weight loss. With Factor, you can lose up to 9.3 lbs and up to 3 inches off your waist circumference in just 16 weeks. Their keto meal plan includes up to 15 keto meals per week, and you can pick from a new menu of 35 dietitian-designed meals and 60+ add-on options every week.
Green Chef
Green Chef is one of the healthiest meal kit delivery services, catering to various diets, including keto. With a Green Chef subscription, you'll find creative keto meals with a bevy of chef-created recipes and high-quality, mostly organic ingredients. They offer roughly four keto options per week, making them a pricier option. However, Green Chef is worth considering if you seek healthy meal kits delivered each week. Green Chef is the first meal kit service to deliver low-carb, high-fat keto meal kits with sustainably sourced, select organic, and pre-measured ingredients. They offer a flexible menu with 80+ weekly options, and their keto meal kits come with pre-measured sauces and spices, saving you time in the kitchen.
Pete's Real Food
Pete's Real Food offers prepared keto meals that are perfect if you're inclined to keep to a paleo plan that allows for healthy foods with a high carb count, such as sweet potatoes and carrots. While this service is not exclusively keto, you can still order plenty of low-carb, keto-friendly meals. Pete's Real Food delivers healthy options loaded with protein and healthy fats, such as slow-cooked pork shoulder and Mediterranean chicken thigh dinner.
Home Chef
Home Chef has the most keto-friendly meal kits, making it an excellent choice for those on a low-carb keto diet. Their Carb Conscious meal plan starts at about $8 per serving, and there are typically 14 meal kits to choose from in any given week, containing less than 15 grams of carbs per serving. Home Chef also offers the option to swap or double the protein in any meal, making it easier to find the right low-carb meals. They also have oven-ready keto-friendly meal options.
Fresh N Lean
Fresh N Lean is the best plant-based keto meal subscription, offering low-carb, plant-based meals like bolognese vegetables, cream of broccoli soup, and chimichurri vegetables. They are also the best overall prepared keto meal delivery service, making vegan, keto meals that are tasty and convenient. However, cooking meals at home might be a better option if you're looking for more variety, as they only offer a limited number of options per week.
ButcherBox
ButcherBox is a meat subscription service that is great for keeping keto. They send grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and wild-caught salmon to your door every few weeks. Their meat subscription starts at $146 for 9 to 14 pounds of beef, chicken, and fish, and you can curate your delivery to fit your needs.
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Best keto snacks and supplements
Sticking to a keto diet can be challenging, especially when it comes to finding tasty snacks that fit within the strict dietary requirements. However, there are plenty of delicious and nutritious keto-friendly options available. Here is a list of some of the best keto snacks and supplements on the market, based on reviews and recommendations from various sources:
Keto Snacks:
- Perfect Keto Nola Bars: These bars offer a delightful crunch of nuts and seeds with a subtle sweetness from monk fruit. They are packed with dietary fibre and heart-healthy fats, making them a satisfying and indulgent snack.
- HighKey Snacks Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies: These cookies are a perfect keto-friendly treat, with a crunchy texture and sweet taste. They are also gluten-free and low in net carbs, making them a popular choice among Amazon customers.
- SmartSweets Gummy Bears: These stevia-sweetened gummy bears are a great alternative to traditional sugary treats. They come in a variety of flavours and are perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without breaking your keto diet.
- Whisps Cheese Crisps: Made with just one ingredient—cheese—these airy and crunchy crisps are a high-protein, gluten-free snack that can be enjoyed on their own or crumbled over a salad.
- Quest Nutrition Tortilla Style Protein Chips: With 19-20g of protein and only 3-4g net carbs per serving, these chips offer a crunchy and savoury snack option for those following a keto diet. They come in a variety of flavours, including chili lime, nacho, and ranch.
- Oloves Natural Pitted Olives: These pre-packaged olives are a convenient and savoury snack option that can be easily taken on the go. They come in a variety of flavours and are a great alternative to traditional snack options.
- Munk Pack Keto Granola Bars: These granola bars are made with a wholesome mix of nuts and seeds, sweetened with a natural sweetener that has minimal impact on blood sugar and insulin levels. They are a tasty and nutritious snack option that aligns with keto diet requirements.
- Keto and Co Fudge Brownie Mix: This brownie mix allows you to make delicious, homemade, keto-friendly brownies. They are fudgy, rich, and sweet, while still being low-carb, fibre-loaded, and sugar-free.
- Fat Snax Low-Carb Keto Crackers: These crackers are made with keto-friendly ingredients like almond flour, coconut flour, egg white, and cream cheese. They are a convenient and tasty snack option that can be enjoyed on their own or with your favourite toppings.
- ChocZero's Keto BarK: This milk chocolate bark combines creamy, keto-friendly chocolate with crunchy hazelnuts. It is sweetened with natural monk fruit and comes in a variety of flavours, making it a popular choice for chocolate lovers following a keto diet.
Keto Supplements:
- Exogenous Ketones: These supplements are popular among those following a keto diet as they can provide an energy boost and help elevate ketone levels. Perfect Keto's peach-flavoured ketones are a well-liked option.
- 7-Keto DHEA: This supplement is often used for weight management and carbohydrate metabolism support. It comes in various forms, such as capsules, softgels, and powders, and can be found in products by brands like Jarrow Formulas, Life Extension, and NOW Supplements.
- Keto Electrolyte Powder: Electrolyte supplements can be helpful for those on a keto diet, especially during the initial adjustment period. Options like Sports Research Keto Plus provide hydration, energy, and support for ketosis.
- Keto Multivitamins: Keto diets can sometimes lead to nutrient deficiencies, so taking a multivitamin can be beneficial. KetoCore by Ketolabs offers a keto-specific multivitamin to ensure you're getting all the necessary nutrients while following a low-carb or carnivore diet.
- MCT Oil: Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil is a popular supplement for those on a keto diet as it can provide a quick source of energy and help with ketone production. It can be consumed in various forms, such as capsules or added to drinks and smoothies.
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Best keto for weight loss
The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that aims to put your body into a state of ketosis. It is considered one of the best diets for fast weight loss, with some keto dieters losing a significant amount of weight very quickly. However, it is important to note that the keto diet ranks relatively low in the best diets overall and has some potential drawbacks and side effects.
The keto diet is a low-carbohydrate, fat-rich eating plan that has been used for centuries to treat specific medical conditions. By depriving the body of glucose, its main source of energy, the body begins to use an alternative fuel called ketones, produced from stored fat. This state is called ketosis.
What to Eat on Keto
On the keto diet, you focus on consuming high-fat foods and significantly reducing your carbohydrate intake. Low-carb, high-fat ingredients include:
- Avocados
- Meat
- Fish
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Cream
- Oil
- Butter
- Nuts
- Seeds
You can also include leafy greens and berries. However, you should avoid or restrict wheat, grains, potatoes, corn, pulses, beans, milk, fruit, and sugar.
Weight Loss Effects of Keto
Research has shown that the keto diet can induce rapid weight loss, which is partly due to water loss and partly due to fat loss. A 2013 analysis found that people who followed the keto diet lost more weight than those on a low-fat diet in the short term. However, the weight loss effect becomes similar to other dietary approaches after one year.
It is important to note that long-term compliance with the keto diet is low, and it may be challenging to maintain. Some potential reasons for this include:
- Restricting a whole food group
- Symptoms of "keto flu," including headaches, nausea, constipation, tiredness, and difficulty sleeping
- The higher-than-average cost of the diet
Potential Drawbacks and Side Effects
The keto diet has some potential drawbacks and side effects to consider:
- Increased LDL ("bad") cholesterol: The keto diet has been linked to increased LDL cholesterol, which can lead to a buildup of plaque in your arteries and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances: The keto diet can cause your body to excrete more water, leading to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- Kidney stones: There is an increased risk of kidney stones for those following the keto diet.
- Bad breath, constipation, and headaches: Like other low-carb diets, the keto diet may cause these unpleasant side effects.
- Ketoacidosis: In rare cases, a very-low-carb diet can lead to ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition where the body produces more ketones than it can use, resulting in a toxic buildup in the blood.
The keto diet has been shown to be effective for specific medical conditions, such as epilepsy and type 2 diabetes. However, it may not be suitable for everyone, and it is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, especially if you have any medical issues or are taking medication.
While the keto diet can be an effective tool for weight loss, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks and side effects and ensure that you are following a well-formulated plan that includes a variety of nutritious foods.
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Best keto for diabetes
The ketogenic diet, or keto, is a trending diet that involves eating high-fat, protein-rich foods, while severely restricting carbohydrates and sugars. While keto can be effective for some people with type 2 diabetes, it's not suitable for everyone. Before starting keto, it's important to consult a doctor or dietitian to determine if it's the right choice for your individual needs and health goals.
Pros of Keto for Diabetes
Keto can be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes in several ways:
- Improved blood sugar control: By restricting carbohydrates, keto helps maintain blood sugar levels within a healthy range, reducing the risk of dangerous spikes.
- Weight loss: Keto's high-fat, low-carb nature promotes weight loss, which can be beneficial for diabetes management.
- Reduced medication dependence: Following keto may lower the need for diabetes medications, including insulin injections.
- Improved insulin sensitivity: Keto can enhance the body's response to insulin, making it more effective at regulating blood sugar.
- Lower blood pressure: Keto has been linked to reductions in blood pressure, which is beneficial for overall health.
Cons of Keto for Diabetes
Despite its potential benefits, keto also has several drawbacks and risks:
- Restrictive nature: Keto is highly restrictive, making it challenging to stick to in the long term. This restrictiveness may lead to "yo-yo dieting," which can be harmful to diabetes management.
- Nutrient deficiencies: The exclusion of certain food groups may result in a lack of essential nutrients, requiring supplementation.
- Constipation: The low fiber content of keto can cause digestive issues such as constipation.
- Hypoglycemia risk: For people with diabetes, particularly those on certain medications or insulin therapy, keto carries the risk of hypoglycemia (dangerously low blood sugar levels).
- Ketoacidosis: In rare cases, keto can lead to ketoacidosis, a dangerous condition where the body accumulates too many ketones, causing the blood to become acidic.
- Cardiovascular risks: Some researchers suggest that the additional fat intake associated with keto may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially in individuals with diabetes who are already at higher risk.
Alternative Dietary Options
While keto can be effective for some, it's not the only dietary option for managing diabetes. The Mediterranean diet, for example, has been found to be equally effective in controlling blood glucose and offers a less restrictive approach with a wider variety of food choices. This diet emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and olive oil.
Additionally, a plant-based diet has been shown to improve blood sugars, A1C levels, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in people with diabetes.
The keto diet can be a viable option for managing type 2 diabetes, but it should be approached with caution and under medical supervision. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons and make individualized decisions based on personal health needs and goals. Consulting a healthcare professional can help determine the most suitable dietary approach for managing diabetes while considering sustainability and overall health.
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Best keto for epilepsy
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that helps control seizures in some people with epilepsy. It is usually used in children with seizures that do not respond to medications. The diet is stricter than the modified Atkins diet, requiring careful measurements of calories, fluids, and proteins. The diet is supervised by a neurologist and a dietitian. The diet is started in the hospital, with the child fasting (except for water) under close medical supervision for 18-24 hours.
The classic ketogenic diet is a 4:1 ratio of fat to protein and carbohydrates. This is more strict than the 3:1 ratio, which is typically used for infants, adolescents, and children who require higher amounts of protein or carbohydrates. The modified Atkins diet is a 1:1 ratio, which is less restrictive and more palatable for adults and adolescents. The modified Atkins diet is a good option for those who find it difficult to stick to the classic ketogenic diet or those with behavioural problems. The modified Atkins diet has been shown to be more effective in seizure control when started with lower carbohydrate limits.
The medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet is a 1.9:1 ratio of fat to protein and carbohydrates. MCTs are a type of fat that is generally made by processing coconut and palm oils. The body digests MCTs more efficiently than the fat typically found in food, and it also produces more ketones. The MCT diet can be started in the hospital under the supervision of a neurologist and dietician, and it may cause stomach issues or discomfort.
The low-glycemic index treatment (LGIT) focuses on eating complex carbohydrates instead of simple sugars to consume foods with a low glycemic index (GI). The LGIT is more tolerable compared to other versions of the ketogenic diet, though it does produce a lower level of ketosis. The LGIT is a good option for older children or adults.
The ketogenic diet is not suitable for everyone. It may not be suitable for those with severe feeding problems or a condition where a high-fat diet would cause problems. The diet can be adapted to all ethnic diets and for people who are allergic to dairy products. The diet should be carried out with the care, supervision, and guidance of trained medical specialists.
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Frequently asked questions
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat, protein-dense diet that has been used for centuries to treat specific medical conditions. It is distinctive for its exceptionally high-fat content, typically 70% to 80%, though with only a moderate intake of protein.
The keto diet has been shown to produce beneficial metabolic changes in the short term. Along with weight loss, health parameters associated with carrying excess weight have improved, such as insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol and triglycerides. There is also growing interest in the use of low-carbohydrate diets, including the ketogenic diet, for type 2 diabetes.
The keto diet can be hard to stick to, and some people experience "keto flu" when transitioning into ketosis. This includes symptoms such as temporary fatigue, headaches, dizziness, irritability, and nausea. There is also a risk of developing ketoacidosis, a dangerous toxic level of acid in the blood.