Which Fats are Healthy Fats?

what can you eat on a ketogenic diet

Not all fats are equal

On the ketogenic diet, you derive most of your calories, approximately 70-80% from fat. If you are consuming this much fat, it needs to be healthy, unprocessed and made up of Saturated Fatty Acids (SFAs). The remainder of your nutritional macros should consist of 10-20% protein and 5% carbs.

If you are using the ketogenic diet to lose weight, you will need to create a caloric deficit by eating less fat; by doing this, you will use your own body fat stores for fuel.

Healthy Fats for the Ketogenic Diet

 

MCT Oil is the Queen of the healthy fats! MCT stands for ‘Medium Chain Triglycerides’ which are chains of healthy fatty acids. You can find MCTs in coconut oil, palm oil as well as dairy. MCTs are perfect for the ketogenic diet and ketosis because the body quickly converts them into ketones.

The amazing characteristic of concentrated MCT Oils, such as Capric and Caprylic acid (C8 Oil), is that they are not stored as body fat. Your body uses the fuel for energy and any unused ketones leave the body through your urine. These oils catalyse fat burning (ketosis) and are excellent fuel for the brain. Shop our MCT and C8 Oils here.

It is important to choose fats that are high in SFAs and low in Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are prone to oxidation and cause inflammation. I have included the SFA and PUFA percentages below.

 Healthy Non-dairy Fats

Healthy Dairy Fats

Dairy fats are high in SFAs and very low in PUFAs, so they are an excellent choice when following the ketogenic diet. Strive to look for grass-fed or organic options because toxins are stored in the fat and you don’t need the toxins!

The milk proteins in dairy have the potential to cause inflammation in the gut. But if you are not dairy sensitive, these are great healthy fats. The gut has a profound impact on your health and I will create a page all about Gut Health soon. Personally, dairy fats are my go-to!

 

The Unhealthy Fats

You want to avoid Trans Fats and PUFAs. These are inflammatory and trans fats have been linked to heart disease and cancer.

Regardless of what kind of diet you are on, avoid:

  • Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils
  • Margarine
  • Vegetable shortening

Trans fats are often used in processed and prepackaged foods and so by eating fresh, homemade foods, it’s very likely that you’ll be avoiding them anyway.

Most Common Unhealthy Fats with high PUFAs include:

All sugars are equal

In the ketogenic diet, all sugars are equal, whether they come from fresh fruits, sweet potato or a bag of sweets! Ultimately, sugar spikes your blood sugar levels, increases insulin production and gets your body back to burning glucose for fuel. The complete opposite of fat burning through ketosis!

I hope this post helps you determine healthy fats for the ketogenic diet. I am going to be posting on proteins, carbs and carb cycling for the ketogenic diet soon.

If you have any questions or comments, please send us your thoughts below!

Sources: The 30 Day Ketogenic Cleanse by Maria Emmerich and Grain Brain: A Whole Life Plan by Dr David Perlmutter

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