Elaine Vermaas

When weight loss gets technical: Understanding the science of keto meals If you are embarking on a weight-loss journey, keto meals will dispel the idea that if you want to lose weight, you have to deprive yourself of appetizing meals. Keto meals are low in carbohydrates but many scrumptious meals can be created consisting of protein, vegetables and dairy ingredients that will satisfy your hunger. Shedding weight with food The term ketogenic was not coined until the twentieth century, but the principle behind keto meals has been around a lot longer. A ketogenic diet puts your body in a fasting state. Reducing your carb intake makes your body burn ketones produced by the breaking down of fat compounds, instead of glucose. This results in an alternative fuel source for your body. As it takes more calories to turn fat into energy than to turn carbs into energy, you lose weight. In ancient Greece, physicians like Hippocrates discovered that if their epileptic patients fasted, their epileptic seizures reduced. Of course, humans cannot fast forever and as these patients began eating normally again, their symptoms recurred. In a French medical study in 1911 researchers found that if epileptics maintained a low-calorie diet with periods of fasting, their condition could be controlled. This led to modified fasting that focused on reducing or even eliminating carbohydrates from the diet and the results were that eating ketogenic meals mimicked the body’s metabolism that fasting produced. Since then, foodies have introduced appetizing and tempting keto meals that make weight-loss enjoyable. Preparing the meals Keto meals are created by using non-starchy vegetables, full-fat dairy products, eggs, shellfish, nuts, seeds and meat protein, which can be omitted for vegetarians. With such a tasty choice of ingredients, many diverse and always tasty keto meals are easily made at home or are readily available in restaurants. Imagine a yummy fried bacon, egg and tomato breakfast, followed later by a light lunch of chicken salad or cold turkey with cream cheese. Your dinner could be something delish like pork chops and red pepper salsa. When diet and eating out harmonise Also keep in mind that as you lose weight, your overall health will improve reducing your risk for developing heart disease or type 2 diabetes. You can create your scrumptious keto meal at restaurants like YOLO (Tanjong Pagar). Their Kung Pao chicken - minus the rice - should do the trick. Alternatively, head over to Brunch Cafe for their chicken katsu. Keeping on track when trying to lose weight, has never been so easy or delicious.