The ketogenic diet is the process of incorporating high fat, low carbohydrate meals in order to deplete the body's carbohydrate stores, causing the body to burn fat for energy. This causes the body to enter a ketosis state. To avoid being thrown out of ketosis, watch out for the following foods.
1.Wheat (refined carbs)
Wheat and wheat products contain starches and gluten. Starches are complex sugars or complex carbohydrates, whereas gluten is a protein.
Consuming wheat and its products in a ketogenic diet proves to be detrimental to the entire ketosis process. This is because it introduces a high level of carbs (and hence glucose), which is essentially what is being reduced in this diet.
White bread, rye bread, sourdough bread, cakes, biscuits, cookies, pastries, muffins, and other wheat products should be avoided to maintain ketosis.
2.Fruits and fruit juices
While fruits appear to be healthy and beneficial, not all of them are suitable for the ketogenic diet. Some fruits, have a high carbohydrate content and should be avoided entirely.
Fruits contain natural sugars, which contribute to an increase in carbohydrate levels in the body. These fruits include mangoes, bananas, apples, oranges, pineapples, peaches, and tangerines, to name a few.
Their juices and other processed juices contain artificial sweeteners, which are sugars in and of themselves and these contribute to kicking out of ketosis.
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3.Legumes and vegetables
Considering ketosis, confusion may arise when it comes to legumes and vegetables, because vegetables are the main dishes recommended in the ketogenic diet. When it comes to carbohydrate concentration, vegetables can be divided into two categories: high-carb and low-carb vegetables.
To avoid being kicked out of ketosis, we should avoid the high-carb vegetables. These include pumpkins, sweet potatoes, peas, corns, potatoes, yams, and sweet corns are some examples of high-carb vegetables.
Examples of legumes to avoid include green peas, peanuts, navy beans, baked beans, kidney beans, Lima beans, Pinto beans, black-eyed peas.
4.Processed meats and Dairy Products
Most processed meats contain carbohydrate-rich preservatives. Consuming such processed meats is often counterproductive, despite the fact that protein is recommended to maintain muscle mass.
Some of the preservatives used on these meats may include artificial sweeteners, gluten, or sugars. Sausages, bacon with sugar, and glazed ham are just a few examples of processed meats that can knock you out of ketosis.
While many dairy products are high in healthy fats and protein, others are high in carbohydrates. Animal milk, in particular, is high in carbs and should be avoided entirely on a ketogenic diet.
Some of the dairy products to avoid include flavored or sweetened yoghurt, smoothies, condensed milk, and creamed cottage cheese.
Conclusion
Ketosis is not a one-day process; rather, it is a journey that requires patience and perseverance. The ketogenic diet focuses on increasing fat intake while lowering protein intake and drastically reducing carbohydrate intake. As a result, keeping an eye out for the foods listed above will help you stay in ketosis.
