Recently, I’ve had a newfound fun yet devoting habit of creating and watching TikTok videos. Many nutritionists, physicians, and health coaches speak out against the ketogenic lifestyle claiming that it is unsustainable. At first, I would find myself in the comments telling all that I disagree with the sentiment. However, it would turn into a back and forth discussion without any outcome or productivity. I tend not to be an argumentative type of person and try my best to view all perspectives. So it really got me thinking…What does it mean to be “unsustainable?” What does sustainable even mean?
By definition, sustainability is the ability to be maintained. A ketogenic lifestyle is one that includes high-fat, moderate-protein, and low carbohydrate foods. The 5-10% of total calories coming from carbohydrates allows for non-starchy vegetables and fruits with a low glycemic index. The balance of macronutrients places the body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where the body utilizes fat for energy instead of glucose. Therefore, when one asks is keto sustainable, they are truly asking can you eat this way all of your life? While I believe that balance is important and it’s okay to indulge in moderation. You can absolutely live without bread and sweets. There is no minimum amount of carbohydrates that’s required for survival, although many are conditioned to believe otherwise. Now, due to the popularity of keto, new products and restaurant menu items have made it easier than ever to maintain this lifestyle.
All in all, when transitioning into this lifestyle, one should consider their own goals, preferences, and personal health conditions. As a keto vegetarian, my meals are filled with a variety of whole foods. Just like with any other new meal plan or change to your nutrition, its sustainability can only be determined by the person willing to sustain it. Whether it is a calorie deficit, ketogenic, paleo, or any other meal plan, the new healthy behaviors learned must be maintained in order to create a sustainable change.
To learn more about the most searched weight loss trend in 2020 and to see whether it is right for you, sign up for my FREE Keto Vegetarian Mini-Course. In this course, I discuss the history of keto, benefits, misconceptions, how to get started, and how I modified my meal plan to fit a vegetarian/pescatarian lifestyle. Click here to register!
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