Is Your Ketogenic Diet Clean or Dirty?

We at CrossFit Diet Tips have written extensively about a good diet program for athletes. Whether you’re following a ketogenic diet or following a Paleo regimen, there are good ways and bad ways to go about it. A name alone does not describe a particular diet program. You can follow one to the letter, but if the food you’re using is of poor quality, you may be doing more harm than good. In this article we will focus on the ketogenic (keto) diet.

A ketogenic diet is defined as eating in a way that your body produces ketones. Ketones are produced by the liver from fat, and that process is triggered by eating very few carbs and a decent amount of protein. Ketones are used by the body for energy. Therefore, a ketogenic diet essentially burns fat as the body’s fuel source. Fat is burned non-stop by your body. When your body produces ketones, it goes into a state of ketosis. Ketosis will burn fat without even worrying about fasting. That is, as long as you stick to a ketogenic diet.

This brings me to our topic of a clean vs. dirty ketogenic diet. Since this type of diet is limited in carbohydrates, a normal staple could be seafood, meat, and low-carb vegetables. This doesn’t mean it’s okay to eat a fast food hamburger or other commercially raised meat. If you’re just cutting back on your carb intake, you’re living a “dirty” ketogenic diet. Vegetables, meats, seafood, etc…, must be organic and non-transgenic.

We recommend that you stay away from processed or packaged foods with preservatives. These will damage any diet and prevent you from living a toxin-free life. Any diet works best when the foods are basic and clean.

A Keto diet has a detoxification process when consumed correctly. If you add toxins through food, you are not helping your liver or your health.

Eat fresh, organic vegetables. Try to regularly eat a variety of colorful, high-fiber vegetables. The more you do this, the better and tastier they will taste. Before long, your body will actually be craving them for every meal.

As for fatty products, choose healthy sources. These can be organic flaxseed, olive oil, avocado, or coconut oil. Many of these are considered non-inflammatory foods. Inflammatory foods would be those such as dairy or some of the nightshades.

While living the clean ketogenic diet, remember to stay well hydrated. Many people don’t realize that water supports all daily functions, including digestion and organ production.

In closing, remember, if you’re living the “dirty” keto diet, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Stay clean and healthy.

To be honest,

CrossFit Diet Tips