You might have been in a relationship with Keto for quite some time now and things are finally steady, stable and smooth sailing. However, if you have been in a relationship long enough, you may involuntarily find yourself yearning for a variety just to keep things new and exciting.
Being a Ketonian myself, I know how hard it is to maintain the Ketogenic way of eating to a tee. Aside from it getting too familiar and boring, it requires a lot of time and effort to do your meal prep and it can get tedious and expensive too when you have to shop for those high-quality, grass-fed meat instead of the regular ones you normally see in the grocery store. For this reason, the idea of doing an alternative, exciting and more convenient way of eating Keto emerged. It is unclear where this idea originated but regardless, this unhealthy and probably more exciting twist of Keto has now become increasingly popular especially for those who have a relatively busy lifestyle and are always on the go.
Interested? Feel free to dig in…
To give you a clearer picture of what this friskier and dirtier keto version is all about, let’s break down the difference between clean keto and dirty keto:
Clean Keto / Pure Keto is the good and faithful version of the Keto Diet we all know and love. This is what you signed up for when you decided to devote yourself to Keto. With this type, much emphasis is placed on food quality. Consequently, it is focused on feeding the body with nutrient-dense foods coming from high-quality sources as it should be. These include grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork, free-range eggs, wild-caught seafoods and plenty of organic vegetables. In addition, cooking these with olive oil, avocado oil and walnut oil can add a healthier touch due to healthier fats as compared to using regular butter. Now this right here is the epitome of the Keto Diet, getting your body into ketosis by feeding it with the healthiest food possible. Being committed to this faithful kind of keto can bring about the most optimal results for your body, not only for your weight loss goals but for your general health as well. If you have the will-power and discipline to maintain this, do yourself a favor and stick to this kind of Keto diet.
Dirty Keto/Lazy Keto.
In contrast with Clean Keto, the Dirty Version doesn’t give much importance to the quality and nutrient density of your food intake for as long as it fits your daily keto macronutrient ratios for the day. But just the same, this dirty version can still result to weight loss for as long as you follow the holistic approach, get in the correct combination and amount of fats, protein, and carbs and get your body into ketosis. Here is a sample list of foods that are considered to be Dirty Keto:
- Bunless cheeseburgers
- Pork rinds or “chicharon”
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Corned beef
- Spam lite
- Grilled meat and barbecues
- Steak slathered with butter
So, people who opt for this keto version can easily order a double bacon cheeseburger from their favorite fast food, take out the buns and technically may still lose weight for as long as their body is in ketosis. This convenience is what makes dirty keto very appealing to most people. With a busy lifestyle, this keto version is just too easy to buy from your Burger King or Mcdonalds and eat on the go. No meal prep and no cooking. But simply being in ketosis and losing weight does not mean you’re healthy. In as much as convenience is the strongest suit of dirty keto, its main downside is the lack of nutrients it brings to the body. If anything, all those processed foods, with its preservatives and chemicals, may be detrimental to your health in the long run if you decide to do it regularly. While it is understandable that your main reason for doing keto is to lose weight, real and sustainable weight loss depends on where your food comes from and the nutrients you are digesting.
So is Dirty Keto considered as Cheating?
Using that “cheating” word kind of gives a sting when you think about it. After all, resorting to Dirty Keto somehow translates to a Ketonian like you, still wanting to stay in the relationship but somehow looking around for a more exciting and easier way to go about it. The intention to stay is still there but the devotion to stick faithfully to its strict cycle may not be a hundred percent anymore. Having said that, I don’t think dirty keto can be considered as cheating for as long as you do it in moderation and you do not drift apart too much from eating Keto the right away. If doing dirty keto from time to time can help you stick to your commitment with Keto longer, then by all means, do it. If at some point you find yourself in a situation where maintaining clean keto can be quite a struggle, switch to dirty keto by choosing the best possible alternative available. That’s what I did. Personally, I chose to apply dirty keto on an “ as needed” basis meaning I still prioritize eating clean keto about 80% of the time. And then I chose to use the remaining 20% to eat dirty keto, again, on an “as needed” basis or to indulge from to time. Just don’t do it on a long term otherwise, all those processed foods may take its toll on your body over time.
In the end, remember, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to nutrition and dieting. So, take the time to listen to your body and then adjust accordingly. The most important thing is our body’s overall wellness and good health. Losing weight may be your goal but your body’s optimum health should be the priority above all. And, in my opinion, this is what the Keto Diet should be really about.