Why You Should VETO Keto
Diet fads seem to come and go, but one diet seems to be sticking around and gaining traction. The Ketogenic diet or keto diet has exploded in popularity in recent years. The keto diet is a low carb and high fat diet. And by low carb, they really mean low carb with many followers of the diet consuming little to no carbs. While reducing your intake of carbs is not necessarily a bad thing, reducing your carbohydrate intake to zero, or simply having too little carbohydrates is a decision that should be well thought out.
First off, if you choose to partake in the keto diet or already are that is perfectly ok, and I applaud you. If the keto diet works for you that is great (and I wouldn’t change). Too often people are harsh and negative towards people who partake in certain meal plans, diets, or routines and that is never ok! Acting to better your health is never a negative thing and I truly hope for you to succeed. Also, I have known people who have been on the keto diet and have had success, but in this article, I am going to discuss a few reasons why you might want to veto keto.
The keto diet is rooted in the reduction of carbs while increasing fats. The keto diet has helped further the common notion that “carbs are bad” for our bodies. Are carbs the good guy or bad guy? The answer is yes. That’s right carbohydrates can be both good or bad and it simply depends on the type of carbohydrate. Before we discuss good carbs and bad carbs, we must discuss why carbs matter. Carbohydrates are needed for our bodies to provide energy and in a balanced diet should be the main source of energy. Carbohydrates get broken down into glucose (sugar) by our bodies which is used for energy. The glucose is either used immediately for energy, converted to glycogen which is found in the liver and muscles, or if there is too much glucose it is stored as fat which stores energy for the future.
Ok enough of the technical and boring sciency stuff, let’s get down to simply distinguishing between good (complex) carbs and bad (simple) carbs. The best carbohydrates for your body take a longer time to break down into glucose and don’t immediately rush the body with sugar, but gradually and slowly releases the sugar. Good carbohydrates are complex, have a lot of fiber, and are unprocessed. Examples of good carbs include whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Hint hint these three things are good for you.
Now bad carbs consist of foods that release glucose quickly and flood the body with a ton of sugar. Bad carbs are simple, processed, and refined. Simple carbs are just simply not the best fuel for our bodies. Examples of bad carbs include white bread, sugary cereals, sodas, candies, and desserts. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to realize that we should try to eliminate bad carbs from our diets as much as possible.
At ChristianFit we provide meal plans that are easy, smart, and balanced. Keto tries to reduce ALL carbs rather than eliminating bad simple carbs and highlighting and incorporating good carbs. Good complex carbs especially fruits and vegetables are good for your body. Fruits and certain vegetables are eliminated from the keto diet which does not make a lot of sense logically as they can be incorporated in a healthy diet.
Another interesting part of the keto diet is that you are allowed to consume as much fat as you like. The issue and problem with this is that just like carbs there are both good types of fat and bad types of fat. While you might think that all fat is bad there are many good fats such as nuts, fish, and certain types of oils (one being olive oil). The keto diet allows you to eat any type of fats including foods such as greasy meats and pork rinds. Generally, these foods should be avoided, but these foods are acceptable under keto guidelines.
The biggest issue with the keto diet is that it can be very difficult to stick with long term. Whatever “diet” you decide on, make sure it is something that you can sustain and stick with for a long period of time or even your whole life! We want you to live a happy and healthy life and know that you can do it. Today too often, people judge themselves or others simply on appearances. At ChristianFit we frown upon judging and instead work on loving one another. We view food as fuel and nourishment for our bodies that is a gift from God. So, whether or not you decide to go with the keto diet still always remember to be grateful and thankful for the gifts God has given you.
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;”
