The keto diet isn’t new. But it has caught on recently and is now one of the most popular diet trends among North Americans of all ages. Men and women from coast to coast are changing the way they eat in an effort to slim down and get healthy. 

And for many, it’s working. But how? What exactly is keto?

What is Keto?

Keto is short for ketogenic. The diet consists of high-fat, moderate protein, and very few carbohydrates. That means fruits and veggies are off the table, so to speak. It’s quite the opposite of the traditional low-fat, high carb diet we’ve come to know … and loathe.

When you eat a high-fat diet and eliminate carbs, your body is forced to burn fat for fuel. 

The reason the low-fat, high-carb diet doesn’t work is this:

• To lose weight, you need to burn off excess fat

• When you fill your body with carbs, your body burns those carbs for fuel, which means the excess fat isn’t being burned

• You wind up eating more because you never feel full, in part because your insulin (sugar) is spiking and plummeting

On the flip side, when you eat a high-fat, low-carb diet:

• Your body burns fat as fuel because that’s all it has

• You eat less because the fats make you feel fuller, longer

• You don’t have cravings because your blood sugar isn’t constantly spiking and dropping

Granted, it’s more complicated than that. Anything that has to do with the inner workings of the human body is. And we’re not doctors, nor do we pretend to be.

We’re not suggesting that the keto diet is for everyone. It comes with its own set of risks, just like any other diet. In fact, you should never start a diet without first checking with your doctor.

Benefits of Keto

Above and beyond the obvious benefits, like trimming that waistline and eliminating some of that dangerous visceral fat (the fat around your organs), people who eat a ketogenic diet also report plenty of other positives, such as:

• Less brain fog: carbs make you sleepy. When you eliminate carbs, you feel more alert and focused

• More energy: sure, carbs give you a short burst of energy, but it’s quickly followed by a crash (much like the sugar crash that follows a big dessert)

• Convenience: busy people on the go find the keto diet really simple because they’re not hungry as often, which means they focus more on the tasks at hand and less on food

Now, you might be wondering, how does sugar fit into the mix?

When you eat carbs, your body breaks them down and turns them into the sugar glucose. That glucose is then absorbed into your bloodstream. The hormone called insulin carries the glucose into your cells where it is then used as energy. 

That’s why the keto diet is a near-zero-sugar diet. 

Introducing Torani’s Puremade Zero Sugar Syrups

One thing’s for sure, eating a low-carb diet has helped many people shed those unwanted pounds … and keep them off long-term. 

If you’re one of those people, we have some delicious recipes for you to try using our Puremade Zero Sugar Syrups.

And don’t forget to try more delicious recipes using all your favorite Torani Syrups!