The keto diet – a diet that has rapidly gained popularity in recent years – is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that forces your body to break down fat into “ketone” for energy. Today, the keto diet is renowned as one of the most effective dieting plans available, and for good reason – according to a recent study published in Nutrition Research, obese men in the study who followed a keto diet for 12 weeks reported an average weight loss 39 pounds along with a range of other noticeable health benefits such as lower insulin levels, improved physical performance, and more.
Of course, the key idea behind a keto diet is the fact that you are mostly required to give up carbs, which is no easy task. Fortunately, there are carbohydrates that won’t upend your keto diet progress. If you would like to start enjoying the benefits of keto diet without giving up fruits and vegetables entirely, here are five keto-friendly carbohydrates that you can continue to enjoy.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a tasty and carb-rich fruit that offer a number of essential nutrients as well as being one of the few fruits that are acceptable in a keto diet.
Avocado
In addition to being a tasty and filling fruit, avocados are also loaded with healthy monounsaturated fat that make them the perfect addition to a keto diet.
Mushrooms
The meaty texture and flavor of mushrooms make them an enjoyable alternative to most keto-friendly foods. Best of all, mushrooms are very low in net carbs thanks to their high fiber content.
Asparagus
Like most deep green vegetables, asparagus contains a wide range of antioxidants, vitamins, and other essential nutrients while also being a high-fiber vegetable that is very low in net carbs.
Spinach
Another nutrient-rich, deep-green veggie, spinach is a food that is extremely low in carbs and calories while being extremely high in vitamins and nutrients, making spinach the perfect addition to a keto diet.
Conclusion
Starting a keto diet means giving up many high-carb fruits and vegetables. However, there are certainly fruits and veggies that are very healthy and perfectly acceptable to enjoy while on a keto diet. If you are looking for keto-friendly carbs to include in your keto recipes, the five fruits and vegetables listed above are an excellent place to start.
