Finally, after all the research you’ve done, you made up your mind and decided to go keto. Well, congratulations! Now, the only thing left to do is go shopping and buy your keto supplies.
But before doing so, you may want to consider keto supplements as well. These supplements aren’t absolutely necessary but, including them in your keto diet will help you get maximum results. They help accelerate weight and fat loss and boosting your energy levels as you transition to the keto diet. They are also helpful in reducing the symptoms of keto flu, especially in the early stages of the transition.
Listed below are the most popular keto supplements as well as the keto-approved functional foods:
1. Perfect Keto
This is a powdered drink mix. It provides you with exogenous ketones (while your body produces endogenous ketones). People who are not on a keto diet take ketone supplements for energy because exogenous ketones provide your body with ketone bodies which are burned immediately even if you’re not in ketosis state.
Perfect Keto gives us the same benefits that endogenous ketones provide such as energy, focus, improved athletic performance, accelerated weight loss and help us stain in ketosis. However, they should not be considered as replacements. For best results, we should reach ketosis state because that’s where the fats are actually burned.
2. 7 Keto DHEA
is a natural metabolism booster which aids in weight and fat loss. It is a supplement but it’s not artificial. It is naturally produced by the body. 7 Keto DHEA is a metabolite of DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). It is produced by the brain and adrenal glands. It serves as a growth hormone and can stimulate the production of other hormones such as thyroid hormone that help in burning fat, muscle mass improvement.
3. Fish Oil
to stay in ketosis, one of the best food to eat would be fatty fish. They’re rich in Omega-3 which are considered one of nature’s best anti-inflammatories. While on a keto diet, we should avoid some fatty foods rich in Omega-6. Some dairy product has abundant Omega-6 contents. We avoid them because they promote systemic inflammation which plays a role in the onset of many chronic diseases and illnesses like arthritis and cardiovascular disease.
Remember, what we’re after is Omega-3. Taking a fish oil supplement helps us achieve the ideal Omega-3:Omega-6 ratio.
4. Creatine
is an amino acid that plays a crucial role in producing energy and muscle contractions. Keto-dieters, athletes as well as bodybuilders prefer creatine because it helps them increase their endurance during high intensity activities and building lean muscle mass. Creatine is produced naturally but as we age, creatine production declines. So it is indeed beneficial if we take creatine supplements even if we’re on or off the keto diet.
5. MCT Oil
Medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are a type of fat molecule found in butter, yogurt, coconut oil, cheese and palm oil. What sets them apart from other fatty acids is they are used by the body for energy immediately. With a shorter chain length than fatty acids, they are quickly converted into ketones rather stored as fat. In short, MCTs are preferred for energy and ketosis when on keto diet.
The richest natural source of MCTs is coconut oil. Not all have access to this type of oil that’s why taking MCT oil supplements is highly recommended. MCT oil helps you meet your daily fat requirements while in ketosis. You can add it to your shakes and other keto beverages such as herbal tea and coffee.
6. Electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium
reducing our carb consumption poses the concern that we may not be getting enough electrolytes. Low electrolyte levels is the primary cause of keto flu. Now we don’t want that, do we? To avoid keto flu symptoms like headaches, muscle cramping, nausea, dizziness and fatigue, we should keep track of our electrolytes.
Sports drinks are not recommended because most of them contain high levels of fructose corn syrup or sucrose. Ultima Replenisher is a highly recommended electrolyte supplement. It does not contain sugar, artificial ingredients and calories. You can also get electrolytes from bone broth and mineral salts.
7. L-Glutamine
is an amino acid that serves as an antioxidant. It boosts our immunity and improve muscle recovery between workouts. It is highly recommended for those who are on keto diet and are extremely active. Intense exercise can deplete glutamine and when glutamine is depleted, free radicals come into the picture. If we don’t consume fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, we come in danger with cellular damage. Keeping this in mind, it is really necessary to get some glutamine supplement.
8. Vitamin D
while it does not have a role in ketosis, Vitamin D is still important for immunity and electrolyte absorption. Over a billion people are Vitamin D deficient. We can find Vitamin D in keto foods such as mushrooms, egg yolks and fatty fish. However, the best way to get Vitamin D is from the sun. if you don’t spend time outdoors, then taking Vitamin D supplements will surely help.
Now, let’s take on what we call functional foods.
1. Bone Broth
we think of bone broth as a functional for the reason that it contains many beneficial nutrients like gelatin, potassium, glycine and collagen. Bone broth requires extended period of simmering but once done, the nutrients become highly bioavailable. This means that the nutrients become easier for the body to use and gets absorbed right away.
The bone broths we included here are kettle and fire chicken bone broth that contains 10 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat and zero carbs per serving. The other is fire and kettle beef bone broth which contains 6 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbs per serving.
2. Chlorella
Chlorella is very useful for people who get fatigued when on a keto diet. It is a single-celled green algae used for energy by many people. It contains a nutrient called Chlorella Growth Factor, containing nucleic acids RNA and DNA. These nucleic acids assist in cellular repair and regeneration which will result in a more efficient energy transport between your cells.
Chlorella can be found in many supplement forms like powders, tablets, granules or capsules.
3. Green Tea
there are studies suggesting that green tea aids in boosting fat metabolism. It also has epigallocatechin gallate (EGG), an antioxidant that helps in cellular damage prevention.
4. Turmeric
a famous anti-inflammatory spice that became a food trend in 2016. Curcumin, turmeric’s active ingredient, is considered the reason behind turmeric’s health benefits. Its benefits include antioxidation and anti-inflammation. As an anti-inflammatory, it helps to counteract the effects of pro-inflammatory foods such as dairy and non-organic products.
5. Dandelion Root
to promote better digestion, you can always ask from dandelion roots. Dandelion helps stimulate the gallbladder to produce more bile. Bile as we know helps in the digestion and absorption of fatty acids. Having a dandelion root tea in the morning will surely help you digest your meals throughout the day. Roasted dandelion is bitter but adding a squeeze of lemon will help. You can also find dandelion tea at any natural health stores.
Source: Kettle and Fire
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