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15 Best Keto Products For Weight Loss, According to a Nutritionist
Women’s Health
Somehow 2020 is only weeks away, and if there is one diet trend that totally dominated the past year (and the year before it), it’s keto. You tried it, three of your coworkers tried it, heck, even your dog tried it. (Jk…please don’t put your dog on a high-fat diet.)
While on your keto-neato journey, you’ve probably searched high and low for the best keto products out there. After all, since the keto diet hit what Google calls “peak popularity” in January 2019, the market for packaged keto-friendly foods has totally exploded, making it difficult to spot the diff between a product that’s good for you and one that’s, well, not.
When you’re trying to lose weight, you ultimately need to look beyond the keto label, says Alyssa Koens, lead registered dietitian with Profile Sanford (a company that, btw, sells its own line of clean keto-friendly frozen meals). That’s because something that says it’s high in protein could also be high in unhealthy trans fats, while something that claims to be low-carb could secretly be loaded with tons of unnecessary sugar or sodium. (Bummer, I know.)
It’s also worth noting that “the keto diet can vary pretty widely, with some people doing the traditional high-fat, no-carb version, and others doing the more popular, modified plan, where you can have some carbs,” Koens says. Either way, she says, you’re going to want to fill your shopping cart with three kinds of food: nutrient-dense fruits and veggies (think berries and non-starchy vegetables like kale, broccoli, or spinach); quality lean protein sources like fish, beef, and eggs; and healthy-fats, like the omega-3s found in nuts and olive oil.
Now, what to avoid when it comes to packaged foods? Hidden sugars, high sodium levels, and trans or saturated fats (and of course, artificial ingredients).
“I always tell clients not to just look at the front of the box, but to turn it around and check the nutrition facts panel,” Koens says. Any keto product you buy should contain mono- or polyunsaturated fats, less than 4 grams of sugar per serving, and equal less than 10 to 20 percent of your daily value of sodium.
So, now that you’re armed with all the info you need to make smart choices at the grocery (or your favorite online supermarket), here are the 15 best keto products to shop now: …
One of the most versatile foods for keto dieters is a good nut butter. Breakfast, lunch, snack, dessert, whatever…nut butter is there for you with a solid serving of healthy fat. Koens prefers the Justin’s brand for its simple ingredients and travel-friendly single-serving packets. (You can also shop their almond butter variety.)
“In general, it’s important not to fall into the trap of a product claiming to be keto just because it’s high in fat,” says Koens. “You have to look at where that fat is coming from, whether it’s healthy or not.” Nuts? Definitely, yes.