Getting started with the keto diet

*DISCLAIMER: I am not a keto expert, nor am I a doctor. I am not endorsing this way of eating, nor recommending it. I am simply passing on what I have researched on the topic. It is always recommended that anyone considering starting a new eating plan speak to their doctor first.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the keto diet, or "eating ketogenically." In fact, there's a very good chance that you know someone personally who is following this way of eating that has gained popularity in recent years. But what exactly IS the keto diet? What does it mean to eat ketogentically, and why is this diet so popular?

Essentially, keto is about changing how our bodies convert food to energy. When you eat carbs, your body use the glycogen stored in your muscles for energy. When you eat ketogenically, by contrast, you re-program your body to burn fat stores instead, which allows your fat cells to release fatty acids. Those fatty acids are then broken down by your liver to produce ketones.

The Ketogenic Diet is a special type of high fat diet that actually re-programs your metabolism to burn your fat stores for fuel rather than using the glycogen stored in your muscles.

This allows your fat cells to begin releasing fatty acids, which your liver will then breakdown to produce what are called "ketones." This places your body into a state of ketosis, allowing the body to burn more fat for energy. For most people, that results in a reduction of fat in the belly, thighs, and hips and an overall weight loss.

If you're considering starting on a keto journey, I have a great resource for you. The Beginner's Keto Diet Cookbook by Martina Slajerova is perfect for the keto beginner, as the name suggests.

The author starts off by giving the reader extensive, but easy-to-digest information about what exactly the keto diet is, as well as how to get started and move through the various phases of keto (Induction, Adaptation, and Maintenance). There are food lists, tips for tackling "keto flu," and more -- all of the information you need to get started and stay sustained throughout your keto journey.

And what would a cookbook be without recipes? There are more than 100 recipes here for living the keto life, such as:

- Cheesy Waffle Stacks

- Chicken Meatball Pho

- Salisbury Steak with Quick Mash

- Keto Pad Thaiketo

- Chocolate Cupcakes with German Buttercream

- Czech Butter Cake

Sounds delicious, right? There are so many delicious-sounding recipes in this book. Even if you aren't following a keto diet you probably won't be able to resist trying some.

One of the biggest challenges faced by families in which one person is following a special diet is the task of coming up with meals that everyone can enjoy, so the cook isn't spending hours in the kitchen preparing a buffet of options each night. This book has that handled perfectly, offering up delicious, easy, and family-friendly meals that just happen to be keto.

If you've been thinking about going keto but weren't sure where to start, The Beginner's Keto Diet Cookbook is a fantastic resource.

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