What is keto diet?

The ketogenic diet is super high in fat (about 80% of your daily calories), super low in carbohydrates (less than 5% of your calories), and moderate in protein (typically 15% to 20% of your calories). This is a pretty drastic departure from the generally recommended macronutrient distribution of 20% to 35% protein, 45% to 65% carbohydrates, and 10% to 35% fat.

The most important component of the keto diet is a natural and normal process called ketosis. Normally, bodies run very well on glucose. Glucose is produced when the body breaks down carbohydrates. It’s a very simple process, which is why it’s the body’s preferred way to produce energy.

When you cut back on carbs or just haven’t eaten in a while, your body looks for other sources of energy to fill the void. Fat is typically that source. When your blood sugar drops because you’re not feeding your body carbs, fat is released from your cells and floods the liver. The liver turns the fat into ketone bodies, which your body uses as its second choice for energy.

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• • Keto calls for getting around 80 percent of your calorie intake from fat, and limiting your carbs to under 50 grams per day. You have to follow these rules to stay in ketosis—aka fat-burning mode—but it sure can be tempting to take a bite of that pizza when you don’t have the inspiration to stay on track.•

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