A viral diet that’s been shown to burn 10 times more fat than a standard diet is gaining momentum among Silicon Valley tech workers. And it involves eating a lot of fat.
The ketogenic or “keto” diet — which first became popular in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy and diabetes — limits carbohydrates to no more than 50 grams a day, which is the rough equivalent of a plain bagel or a cup of white rice. By comparison, dietary guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture recommend between 225 and 325 grams of carbs a day.
On the keto diet, the body goes into starvation mode and taps its fat stores for fuel. Studies suggest the low-carb, high-fat diet may promote weight loss, improve focus, and stave off age-related diseases. More research is needed on its long-term effects, especially in healthy people.
A small study recently published in the journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome found that adults who had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (a precursor of diabetes) and ate a ketogenic diet had resting metabolic rates (a measure of how much energy your body burns when at rest) over 10 times higher than people who ate a standard diet.
Earlier this year, I spent two months eating bacon, butter, and avocados to see why the keto movement is so popular with tech workers. Here’s what it was like.
I am no stranger to diets. I’ve cut sugar, counted points on Weight Watchers, and swapped solid food for Soylent, a venture-capital-backed meal-replacement shake.
But those usually don’t last long. I love food. I’m a chronic snacker.
When I first learned about the keto diet, it caught my interest because dieters could eat seemingly unlimited amounts of healthy fats, like cheese, nuts, avocado, eggs, butter — foods that have high “point values” on Weight Watchers and are severely restricted.
The keto diet reorganizes the building blocks of the food pyramid.
It cuts down carbs to between 20 and 50 grams a day, depending on a person’s medical history and insulin sensitivity. (There are about 30 grams in one apple or one-half of a plain bagel.)
On the diet, healthy fats should account for approximately 80% of a person’s daily calories, while protein should make up about 20%. On average, Americans get about 50% of their calories from carbs, 30% from fat, and 15% from protein, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
READ MORE: 11 Best Ways to Lose Weight, According to Science (+12 Delicious Weight Loss Recipes)
