What Is The Keto Diet, Exactly?

In the keto diet world, there are two types of people: those who are all for the high-fat lifestyle and those who, well, aren’t. Halle Berry, for example, is clearly a proponent – as are “Mama June” Shannon and Jenna Jameson. Jameson, for example, credits the keto diet with her more than 40kg post-partum weight loss, while Berry swears that it helps her maintain her health (she has type2 diabetes). But, like any super-polarising trend, the keto diet isn’t universally loved: entrepreneur Tamra Judge, who was on the keto diet for about a month, recently quit, saying it “doesn’t do anything” and made her feel sick (#ketofluproblems). Amidst all the positive and negative reviews, though, you may still be a little hazy on the details of the keto diet – like what it is, how it works and exactly how much butter and cheese you get to eat. Don’t worry, I got you.

- Korin Miller

Keto 101

Short for ketogenic diet, this eating plan is all about minimising your carbs and upping your fats to get your body to use fat as a form of energy, says dietician nutritionist Scott Keatley of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy in the US.

While everyone’s body and needs are slightly different, that typically translates to: 60 to 75 percent of your calories from fat, 15 to 30 percent of your calories from protein and five to 10 percent of your calories from carbs. That usually means eating no more than 50g of carbs a day (some strict keto dieters even opt for just 20g a day).

After about two to seven days of following the keto diet, you go into something called ketosis or the state your body enters when it doesn’t have enough carbs for your cells to use for energy. That’s when you start making ketones or organic compounds that your body then uses in place of those missing carbs. At this point, your body also starts burning fat for more energy, says dietician Beth Warren, founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Living A Real Life With Real Food.

On the rise

Believe it or not, the keto diet was originally designed to help people who suffer from seizure disorders – not to help people lose weight, says dietician Jessica Cording. That’s because both ketones and another chemical produced by the diet, called decanoic acid, may help minimise seizures.