What Is The Keto Diet?
The Keto Diet has gained recognition on a global level. Hard on the heels of the intermittent fasting craze, this low-carb eating plan and its undreamed-of benefits blew us all away. This is a pretty unusual but effective plan which relies on the consumption of high-fat yet very low-carb products. It allows your body to reach the state called ketosis – when your body burns fat instead of sugar. This diet has numerous potential health benefits (4). It may reduce the risk of health conditions like cancer, acne, diabetes, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease (2, 3, 1). In addition, it allows you to stabilize blood sugar, restore your energy supplies faster, lose weight and turn off your food cravings, as high-fat products provide the feeling of satiety.
Is this product keto-friendly? This question seems to be burrowed into the minds of every keto dieter. Google search won’t lie. Everyone’s afraid of sending their efforts down the drain by eating the product that throws them out of ketosis. We’re here to break down one of the top searched names – Velveeta. Is it keto-approved? Read below to find out.
What Can I Eat On The Keto Diet?
The point is that you should restrict high-sugar foods as they slow down metabolism. So here is the list of products you can consume:
Meat and protein: beef, poultry, pork, lamb, goat, turkey, organ meats (liver, tongue), ham, sausage, bacon, eggs
Seafood: mackerel, salmon, tuna, trout, cod, oysters, lobster, crab, octopus, shrimps
Fats and oils: butter, ghee, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, lard, duck fat, macadamia nuts, avocado oil, and avocados
Read More: What Is Dirty Keto Diet: Demystifying The What’s, Why’s And How’s
Non-starchy vegetables: lettuce, kale, tomatoes, celery, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, peppers
Dairy: Cheese (cheddar, goat, cream, blue, parmesan, mozzarella), sour cream, full-fat yogurt (without added sugar), mayonnaise, heavy cream
Low-sugar fruits: strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, cherries, avocados
Nuts and seeds: macadamia nuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds.
As you can clearly see, a number of dairy products are okay on the Keto Diet, including cheese. What you should avoid are high-sugar dairy products like ice cream and other dairy-based desserts, processed American cheese, milk and milk-based products such as half-and-half. Does that mean you should stop enjoying slices of yummy Velveeta?
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Is Velveeta Keto?
Sad to say, but it’s not. Here are 5 reasons why you should scratch Velveeta off of your Keto menu:
- It’s high in carbs and sugar. A small slice of Velveeta contains 3 grams of carbs and 2 grams of sugar. This is unacceptable for Keto. You can eat a very limited amount of carbs on your diet, so it’s better to opt for nutritious and filling foods like avocado, broccoli, asparagus and berries.
- It’s not a real cheese like it used to be. Now it consists entirely of concentrates, milk fat, and preservatives. That’s why we call it «cheese product» these days.
- It has super-long shelf life. Natural cheddar cheese can only last for 2-4 months unopened in a refrigerator. Velveeta can last 6 months without a refrigerator. Regular cheese contains 3 ingredients, Velveeta 17 – most of which are artificial preservatives.
- No nutritional value. Velveeta contains a very small amount of calcium, vitamin A, and protein.
- It contains a higher amount of lactose than real cheese. Lactose is a sugar of milk, and there’s a lot of it in Velveeta, because it is made of milk and milk-by products. That’s why lots of people with lactose intolerance find out they’re sensitive to Velveeta.
So, the bottom line is that Velveeta is not Keto friendly. Are there any alternatives out there?
What To Eat Instead Of Velveeta On The Keto Diet?
Aside from a number of cheeses listed above, opt for the usual cheddar. Cheddar contains more nutrients, healthier fats and proteins, especially if it’s organic. Besides, there are only traces of lactose in good cheddar, so there are chances you won’t be sensitive to it. Additionally, cheddar cheese is also rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamins A, B12, D, and K2.
To sum up, Velveeta is absolutely not keto-friendly. If you wish to maintain healthy and steady weight loss, opt for nutrient-rich types of cheese. There are plenty out there, just remember to read the ingredients in order to avoid packed with preservatives high-sugar products.
DISCLAIMER:
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
SOURCES:
- Neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects of the ketogenic diet (2006, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (2008, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- The ketogenic diet: a 3- to 6-year follow-up of 150 children enrolled prospectively (2001, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
- The ketogenic diet: one decade later (2007, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
