What Is a Keto Diet & How Does Keto Work?

The science part: A keto diet is a low carb, moderate protein, higher-fat diet that can help you burn fat more effectively. Let's break down the specifics...

We want you to live your best low-carb life.

How does this sound?

Finally fitting into your favourite clothes.
Feel good about foo again – yo-yo dieting be gone!
Finding that spring in your step, even in the afternoons!
Enjoying deeper sleep and clearer skin.
Helping your digestive system!
Giving your immune system a helping hand.

Then join us! Make new friends in our growing, supportive community and be the first to try new products when they land.

Living Low-carb

The science part – A low-carb diet means that you eat fewer carbohydrates and a higher proportion of fat, with adequate amounts of protein as well.

Why follow a low-carb lifestyle?

Fat loss
Reduce your hunger
Control your sugar addiction
Improve your clarity of thought and get rid of daily brain fog

How do I live low carb?

Often people choose to switch to a low-carb way of eating once they’ve seen the benefits of keto and would like a bit more freedom with carbs. Some people even manage to stay in ketosis eating up to 50g net carbs a day, especially when exercising regularly.

What could I add to my daily diet?

Meat and Fish, or low-carb Meat alternatives
Eggs; whole, egg whites or egg yolks
High-fat dairy products, like Yoghurt
Nuts and Seeds
Leafy greens, like Spinach
Lower carb fruits, such as Apples or Strawberries

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Why follow a keto lifestyle?

- Fat loss
- Reduce your hunger
- Control your sugar addiction
- Improve your clarity of thought and get rid of daily brain fog

Will I be starving?

No! That’s the great thing about living low carb, and especially eating keto style: as you become more and more fat-adapted, your hunger decreases, and those horrible sugar cravings are a long-lost memory. You will be able to go to your fridge, or your cupboards and make healthy choices without those cravings making you lunge for something sweet or stodgy!

Those picky cravings you get as well disappear, and you start to feel all the other benefits of living low carb such as:

- Deeper sleep
- Clearer skin
- No more mood swings
- Afternoon energy slumps are a thing of the past
- Switched-on thinking
- More energy to live the life you want!

So, How Does Keto Work?

When following a keto diet, your body will use your stored fat for energy first, instead of breaking down the carbohydrates you eat to turn into sugar and use that for energy. Once all the stored carbohydrates in your body leave your system, which normally takes 3-5 days, your body starts to become fat-adapted and, in turn, switches to burning the fat you have eaten and stored to give you energy!

That’s why, in your first 2 weeks, you may experience a dramatic loss on the scales, as carbs love nothing more than to hold onto water. When you reduce the carbs you put into your body, the water will leave, and you will both feel and look less bloated.

What is Ketosis?

Eating a very low carb diet (<20g/day) has been shown to lower insulin levels in your body, and your liver then starts to convert fat into KETONES. Your body can then use these ketones for energy instead of the glucose it would have used when you were eating more carbohydrates.

Ketosis = when your body has transitioned from your old high carb diet to your new low carb lifestyle and is mainly using ketones and fat for energy. Want a quick way to check if you have achieved Ketosis? Use Ketone Test Strips or Ketone Monitor!

How Do I Start To Eat Keto-Style?

Start off your first week nice and simple :

To enter a keto state – try and consume no more than 20g net carbs per day. The UK food labelling already shows net carbs.
When looking at the food label, if it says “polyols”, you can subtract these as they are sugar alcohols and the body doesn’t use them.
Feel free to drink sugar free fizzy drinks. We advise that, as time goes on, these become fewer and fewer and more of a treat as they don’t have the best effect on your gut – and we want that as healthy as possible to ensure your mood stays positive!
Don’t worry about missing your favourite foods as there is always a tasty substitute!

“No” list

Pulses (beans, lentils etc)
Pasta and rice
Potatoes including sweet potatoes
High-carb Bread
Cakes and biscuits
Crisps and crackers
Milk chocolate

Disclaimer

Although we love sharing information with you and try our hardest to make sure it is credible and researched thoroughly, we do need to make it clear that we really recommend that you consult your GP before drastically changing your lifestyle. The information we provide at weareheylo.com is not intended to replace any advice you receive from your GP and if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are pregnant, we advise to check with your GP before changing your lifestyle.

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