A BEGINNER’S GUIDE to keto

Have you got on the keto diet train yet? Keto has been a wellbeing buzzword in recent times. Here is the lowdown on the low-carb lifestyle and some of its benefits, plus a seven-day keto plan for you to try at home.

What is keto?

The keto way of eating is all about eating a low-carb, high-fat diet, with a focus on avoiding processed foods. Instead of burning carbohydrates, your body uses fat as its fuel source. This is a metabolic state called ketosis. How this works is fat is metabolised in the liver and converted into ketones.

Australian-based author, chef and former My Kitchen Rules star Scott Gooding is a long-time keto advocate who has written about some of the benefits of keto in his new book, The Sustainable Diet. The benefits he lists in his book include:

» Improved mood and cognitive function

» Improved insulin sensitivity

» Reduced inflammation

» Increased fat loss.

In New Zealand, one of the main cheerleaders for the keto diet is Dr Cliff Harvey. He is an author, clinician, clinical nutritionist and researcher who completed his master’s degree and doctoral research on ketogenesis.

He says that “the modern, progressive version of keto” has evolved over time. Now, it is generally about eating:

» Plenty of plants

» Protein (such as fish, eggs, or grass-fed meat)

» Healthy fats like