Best Keto Foods List For Burning Fat Efficiently (original) (raw)

keto friendly foods list

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Check out this keto food list if you are new to a ketogenic diet. It includes a quick summary of whole foods to eat on a low-carb meal plan. The guide will help you make the right choices at the grocery store so shopping is much easier.

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The keto diet is a low-carb meal plan that helps people go into a fat-burning mode known as ketosis. Using the right ingredients in low carb recipes can help burn body fat more efficiently.

Below, you’ll see a long list of foods you can eat on a keto lifestyle. First, though, let’s briefly talk about how the ketogenic diet came about in. Interestingly enough, its origins weren’t about weight loss.

Instead, it was a nutritional protocol that was found to reduce seizures in people suffering from epilepsy and other neurological conditions. The medically-supervised ketogenic (“keto” for short) diet dates back to the 1920s at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, where doctors realized that children with low blood sugar had fewer seizures.

Obviously, starvation isn’t healthy. But, doctors realized that tricking the body into thinking its starving–by depriving it of glucose (sugar)–dramatically reduces seizures.

Researchers still aren’t exactly 100% sure why the low carb diet reduced seizures. But, the theory is that ketone bodies (ketones,) which are fatty acids burned by the body for fuel when not enough glucose is present, shuts off hyperactive electrical signals to the brain.

Benefits of Keto Diet Foods

Reducing seizures and losing weight may not be the only health benefits to cutting back on your carb intake. Others have also noted the following switching to a low-carb diet:

People tend to lose weight quickly if they stick to a keto diet. If you want to get leaner, especially around the abdomen, and reap other potential benefits, avoid foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates.

Difference between keto and a standard diet

Remember when you were in grade school and you learned about the food pyramid? The bottom tier of the pyramid (the ones you’re supposed to eat the most) was starchy carbohydrates, i.e. grains.

Think high carb foods like these:

The inverse of the pyramid, the top level, was fats and oils. The servings recommendation for grains was about a dozen servings per day. In comparison, the guideline for fats and oils: use sparingly.

In a nutshell, keto foods are the inverse of the traditional food pyramid. That’s because natural healthy fats will be your best friend when you eat fewer carbs on the keto diet.

Sadly, not much has changed with the United States Drug and Agriculture (USDA) recommendations for a balanced diet. However, the food groups are now more evenly represented in the MyPlate format.

Grains still make up a significant portion of a meal using the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In fact, a modern take on the food pyramid (available at MyPyramid.Gov) does not even include fats/oils.

It’s as if one of the three macronutrients does not exist!

keto foods list

The best macro on a keto diet

Speaking of macronutrients (or “macros” as they’re better known in the keto community), there are three of them:

Guess which of the three macros does not raise your blood sugar levels?

The answer: fats

And, guess which of the three macros does not cause insulin resistance, a condition which may result in type 2 diabetes?

The answer: again, it’s dietary fat.

But, even today, the federal government’s dietary guidelines recommend a dozen serving of grains a day is shameful. No wonder obesity and diabetes rates continue to surge.

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “A house is only as strong as its foundation”. Well, with the federal government’s food pyramid, the foundation is a recipe for metabolic diseases.

That’s because refined grains play a big role in the nation’s continuing “diabesity” epidemic.

keto friendly salad

Keto diet macro ratios

Hang in there… we’re almost at the point where you can start writing down some keto foods.

First, though, you need to learn about macro ratios, and how to count them. This means the percentage of fats, protein and carbs at every meal.

If you don’t know the proper ratio, you’ll have a hard time going into the state of ketosis. Ketosis is when your body is burning its own fat for energy.

Fat

As a general rule of thumb, fat should account for about three-quarters of your total calorie intake on a keto diet.

However, it can be tough to wrap your head around the fact that dietary fat helps you burn your own body fat. So long as it’s not processed fat (fried butter at the fair, for example), indeed, fat helps burn fat.

Protein-Rich Foods

Protein helps nourish your muscles, hair, nails and connective tissue. You don’t want to eat too much protein, especially animal protein, because of the cancer risk.

Limit your protein intake to one-quarter of your plate.

Total Carbs

And, then there’s the third macro, carbs.

Consider carbs the enemy of keto diets. The exceptions are green leafy and cruciferous low-starch veggies and a little bit of low-glycemic, high-antioxidant fruits such as berries.

Carbohydrates make up only 5-10% of calories on a keto diet.

platter of baked crispy bacon

Keto For Weight Loss

Remember the Atkins diet craze? It actually still remains a popular diet, and is also a low carb diet just like keto. However, when it first came out, followers of the diet were delighted to be able to eat platefuls of bacon, eggs, cheese. And, any other food that makes most cardiologists hurriedly scratch out a prescription for a cholesterol-lowering drug.

If you want to lose weight on the keto diet, you’re not going to be able to eat pounds of bacon. Not necessarily because it goes against the keto philosophy (if it’s naturally-raised bacon with no added nitrites or nitrates, no problem!).

Rather, if you stick to keto diet foods, you won’t want to eat a lot.

And here’s why….

When you’re in ketosis, you’re able to digest fats and proteins better. Your appetite will also be mildly suppressed. This is due to a special hormone (CCK) that delays the empty-stomach feeling after a meal.

With most other weight-loss diets, your CCK levels will actually decline. This might be one (of many) reasons most diets fail. However, after eating keto foods for a minimal time, your CCK levels will rise. You simply won’t need to eat as much.

These keto diet foods you will be eating will help you burn fat.

If you’re new to low-carb high fat eating, you may be looking for a keto grocery list to make shopping easier, and knowing what ingredients are allowed in keto-friendly recipes is key to creating your keto meal plan.

Here’s some foods you can eat on the keto diet without worrying about your health.

keto friendly salad

1. Meat

The first group of keto-friendly foods is meat.

You’ve likely heard that eating meat is bad for you. In particular, red meat. Red meat consumption, some studies demonstrate (like this one), leads to a higher risk of colorectal cancer.

Go for Quality

However, what most of these studies fail to take into account is the quality of the meat.

Yes, processed meat is bad.

Think:

However, grass-fed beef and bison are healthy. So, too, is virtually any animal that lives in its natural setting and feeds on its natural diet.

When you eat a slice of grass-fed beef, you’re consuming the beneficial nutrients that the cow ate. This includes omega-3 fatty acids. And CLA, which is another healthy fatty acid.

In fact, CLA may help reduce cancer!

The advice to avoid processed meats is a little misguided. After all, that piece of grass-fed beef you’re about to sink your teeth into has been processed.

Just keep in mind that beef, pork, chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish is best if it’s organic. I realize that organic meat can be way more expensive. But, buying from places like Butcher Box helps keep costs lower.

Other Considerations

This isn’t a keto foods list on the cheap.

However, remember that when you’re in ketosis, you actually won’t need to eat a whole steak to make you feel full. (Some people don’t consider fish meat, but I do).

Avoid meat with condiments.

Because, even if you’re enjoying a 4th of July barbecue with grass-fed burgers, a dollop of ketchup might be all it takes to kick you out of ketosis. (Depending on many factors, you may need to limit your total net carbs to 25-50 grams per day to stay in ketosis.)

So, enhance your meats with natural spices and herbs instead.

cheese board

2. Dairy

Certain dairy products like full-fat cheese, cream, and butter are definitely some of the best keto diet foods. There are even low carb yogurts!

However, cow milk can lead to inflammation which is why you may want to avoid dairy products altogether.

In addition, milk itself is relatively high in sugar, so stay away from even whole fat milk on a keto diet. In fact, just one cup of milk contains over a dozen grams of carbs. And, there’s no fiber to bring down the net carb count lower.

I love milk but milk doesn’t love me back.

It's best for anyone dealing with autoimmune disorders like myself to avoid dairy to lessen inflammation in the body. Instead, I prefer making my own nut milks (especially almond milk).

In addition, I use lots of coconut milk in my recipes-Including this one for Peanut Butter Chocolate Milkshake.

Also, coconut cream is an excellent dairy alternative. And, if you're looking for a good alternative to butter, try butter flavored coconut oil!

brown eggs in basket and on linen.

3. Eggs

Eggs are one of the perfect keto foods but, try to only buy organic eggs. If you have access to a farmer’s market, you can also buy eggs directly from the farmer.

Farm fresh eggs don’t have to be organic. Getting an organic certification is too costly for some small farmers. But, if the farmer tells you that the eggs come from pasture-raised, free-range chickens, go for it!

Eat a couple of eggs a day to keep the bodyfat away.

If you love cheese and yogurt, no need to give them up. But, make sure that the cheese comes from 100% grass-fed cows if you want the very best nutritional profile. Be certain that yogurt is full-fat and plain.

keto friendly vegetables

4. Vegetables

How do you know which veggies are good for a keto diet? And which ones are too high in net carbs?

The simple answer: if it’s green and leafy, eat a bunch of it.

Spinach, kale, chard, parsley, and any other green veggie that goes well in a green drink are high in antioxidants. But, you don’t want to avoid these super healthy veggies just for the sake of staying in ketosis because they tend to be lower in net carbs.

Bacon and eggs won’t provide you with the plant compounds that may help prevent disease.

Also recommended on the keto foods list in the veggie department:

For more ideas take a look at this list of low-carb vegetables! One of my personal favorites is roasted artichoke hearts.

In the colder months, you might feel like eating higher starch carbs. You can still eat these. Just do so in moderation.

Sweet potatoes, yams, peas, carrots, GMO-free corn, and other tubers contain lots of nutrition. But, due to their relative high carb content, exercise prudent portion control.

Sea vegetables are extremely nutrient-dense. But here in the U.S. few people eat sea vegetables such as seaweed, wakame, hijiki, dulse, kelp and others you might see in a sushi restaurant. But they are great for making your own keto sushi!

One reason researchers believe certain Japanese populations live into their 100s is because of sea veggies. Sea veggies are keto friendly because they are low in net carbs.

5. Nuts & Seeds

Avoid seed oils like the plague. Most commercial seed oils (soybean, cottonseed) are highly inflammatory to your body. It’s hard to lose weight when you’re body is in a chronic state of inflammation.

However, whole nuts and seeds are solid keto foods but, certain nuts are high in carbs. Therefore, limit your intake of nuts to a handful one or two times per day.

Here’s a list of nuts and seeds I deem safe for keto:

keto friendly nuts

Nut & Seed Butters

You can also add some processed butters on your keto diet foods list!

These are some of the popular ones:

6. Snacks

I have dozens of low carb snack recipes that are keto-friendly and low in sugar. They use natural sweetener alternatives such as stevia and monk fruit extract. (See list of keto-friendly baking ingredients below.)

Here are just a few keto-friendly snacks to buy:

7. Flours

Most breads and processed foods are made with white or wheat flour. And, both are bad for your health.

Try using some of these flours instead to make keto foods:

8. Baking

If you love to baked goods, you'll need to keep some low carb sweeteners and flours in your pantry along with unsweetened chocolate and cocoa. The following items fit any keto foods list in addition to coconut and almond flour.

keto friendly berries

9. Fruit

There's natural fruit sugar called fructose in fruits so consume them in moderation. This is especially true of sweet berries like blueberries.

However, there are two fruits that have lots of healthy fat. Most fruits lack fat and many fruits are high in sugar. However, olives and avocados are two fruits that have virtually no carbs and lots of healthy fat.

Yes, olives are fruits. And extra virgin olive oil (if you can get the first pressing of the olives, that’s the best!) is a healthy fruit juice!

Avocados are sort of like the fish of the fruit world because they contain omega 3 fatty acids. This fat is typically found in salmon and other cold-water oily fish. It's healthy for your heart and found in the best keto foods.

If you're interested, you can read more about keto fruit.

10. Other Pantry Staples

I've been following a low carb eating plan for nearly two decades. The following are some other low carb staples that I have used in my recipes.

And don't forget the pure fats! These include:

Low-carb recipes for beginners

Now that you know which keto foods are the best to keep in your pantry and fridge, here are some easy recipes you can start with. These will keep you in ketosis and help you lose weight!

The last word

This is by no means a complete, comprehensive list of keto-friendly foods. The information is intended to be a handy guide for beginners. If you need more information, be sure to check out how to start a low carb diet.

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