There are many kinds of keto, so we are going to look at the most commonly researched: strict, lazy, clean, and dirty. We will do this in a 4-part series, one blog for each kind of keto. If you are starting out trying to find information on keto, the different types can be very confusing. We’re going to break that down for you. Then, part 5 of this series will be a discussion of what we do and why. Today is Clean Keto.
What is Clean Keto?
Clean keto, as you might expect, is pretty much the opposite of dirty keto. It is creating and eating foods that use whole, fresh, organic and high-quality ingredients. You don’t eat a lot of processed foods and very few artificial ingredients. Again, you track all your macros, as opposed to just your carb intake, which you do in lazy keto. As with all kinds of keto, the goal is to get into and maintain ketosis so you try to stay below 20 grams of net carbs a day.
What are whole foods? Whole foods are those that are either not processed at all or are very minimally processed. It is food that exists as-is in nature. If you can pronounce all the ingredients on the label, or there is only the one ingredient listed on the label, chances are that this is a whole food. Examples of whole foods that we would eat on keto would include: meats, vegetables, fish and eggs. So, chicken breast would usually be considered a whole food. Frozen chicken nuggets is not a whole food. Yes, the chicken exists in nature. No, they do not naturally have nuggets.
The Pros of Clean Keto
There are many advantages to eating clean keto. You are definitely getting the nutrients you need from your food. There is a proven connection between health and whole foods. The fats you take in are heart-healthy fats that decrease inflammation. This can mean relief from things like chronic pain, heart disease and migraines.
Clean keto, it is argued, is better for our own lives but also for our environment. Food is ethically sourced and organically grown. You can feel good about purchasing these items. Normally you purchase them locally, from farmers directly at markets or small businesses. You cut down on the environmental footprints of our food.
The Cons of Clean Keto
Well, this sounds great. What could possibly be the negatives about this? There are a few. First of all, you need to do more research and have more knowledge to eat clean keto. It’s difficult getting started in keto and it becomes even more overwhelming to people when they include the added pressure of eating only whole, fresh foods. It would complement strict keto well, but it is another layer of learning you need to do.
There is more prep work and cooking involved with clean keto. If you are buying fresh ingredients, you need to prep them properly so they will keep longer than two days. The food industry created preservatives so we could keep things longer and we have come to rely on that.
Also, it means making your own condiments and sauces rather than buying a keto-friendly product from the store. I think about the ranch dressing that I use. I would have to make that from my own ingredients I purchased. That’s a lot of time and expense.
There are Extra Expenses
Speaking of expense, it can be very expensive to only buy whole, fresh foods. Whether you agree with it or not, the big food industry can charge less for things that are made and shipped in mass quantities. I admit it, I go to Walmart for most of my groceries because it ends up being cheaper than going to a local store. It’s sad, but true.
Today, with COVID being in full swing, we are finding there are supply shortages. We went to buy chicken breasts, and the only ones available were certified organic. We paid $15 for 2 chicken breasts. Did they hand feed the chickens three times a day???? We are fortunate that we can buy food without counting pennies, but we couldn’t do that too many times.
Eating clean keto is also less convenient when you are going on road trips or vacations. Sure, you can find restaurants that only use whole foods, but it is going to be expensive. They can charge more because they are catering to a select group of people. And, as talked about above, their expenses are more, I’m sure. You would need to take a cooler on a road trip, as fast-food keto options would be out. Again, it is a lot of planning and prep work.
Is it Feasible?
I think clean keto would be an ideal choice, if you had unlimited time and budget for food. If I ever win the lottery, it will be my go-to! In our final part of this series, we will talk about what kind of keto we do and what works for us. Stay tuned!
Wendy
