November 27, 2022
Keto Clarity by Jimmy Moore with Eric C. Westman, M.D.
A beginner's guide to starting a keto diet with explanations of how keto differs from low calorie, low carb, and paleo diets. My sister-in-law is doing some kind of carnivore's diet, so I wanted to see if that's the same thing as keto. It's not.
The research on keto's positive effect on a variety of health conditions is intriguing, including diabetes, weight loss, cardiovascular disease, aging, and cognitive disorders. Carbs are my downfall and I do better if I stay away from carbs altogether, rather than trying to limit them like plans like WW do (which works well for some people - one of my brothers has done WW for years with great success). Keto eliminates most carbs except for non-starchy vegetables and the few carbs that you may get in protein sources. I actually like vegetables (no, I'm not an alien), but this might be a good diet for the non-vegetable eater.
Another thing about keto that appeals to me is that you limit protein, since I'm not a meat lover. The hardest thing to get your head around is increasing the fat in your diet. If you aren't eating sugar or starch, you body will start to burn your dietary and stored fat. It seems counter-intuitive to eat fat when you already have plenty of fat stored around your body, but it seems like the dietary fat triggers fat burning. Also, it's been drummed into us for decades that fat is bad for you, even though studies have proved that this isn't true, that it's based on a hypothesis rather than genuine research. Most of what the government tells us about what we should eat comes from lobbyists from various food industries (sugar, snack foods, dairy, grain, juice box manufacturers, soda producers, etc.) and who will pay the most money. Most doctors know very little about nutrition since they don't take even a single class on diet in medical school - I've heard that nutritional instruction is an hour or two at the most.
Overall, keto sounds like it might be a good way to give your organs a rest, especially your liver, kidneys, and pancreas, so I am planning on trying it for 30 days and then evaluating the results.
Peanut butter fat bombs, one of the more delicious things that you can eat on keto
Nut butter fat bombs:
1 c. nut butter (preferably almond or cashew, but I used low sugar p.b.)
3/4 c. coconut oil
2-3 T. unsalted butter
2-3 packets stevia
Combine all ingredients in a microwavable bowl and heat in microwave until melted, stirring about every 30 seconds. Pour mixture into ice cube trays or other container. Freeze for two hours. If using a larger container, freeze for 1-1/2 hours and cut into 16 portions, then freeze until solid. Enjoy one after dinner in place of a high-carb dessert. Makes 16 servings.
