If followed correctly, the keto — or ketogenic — diet can help you slim down fast. But because life without pizza, pasta and your favorite beverages might seem like a challenge, it’s fair to wonder: Is there ever room for a cheat day on keto?
Your Body on Keto
The keto diet works differently than other weight loss plans. Most diets work by cutting calories; so while you do lose fat, you also lose muscle. But keto is less about reducing caloric intake, and more about changing it.
“Studies show that when you follow keto’s precise macro blend of 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbohydrate, the majority of weight loss is from fat mass,” explains a dietitian.
But how does this magic equation turn your body into a fat-burning machine? Typically, the body turns to carbohydrate (in the form of glycogen) for energy. When you cut carbs and increase fat in your diet, the body begins to use fat for fuel instead. This fat-burning state, called ketosis, generates byproducts known as ketones, which help suppress appetite, making it easier to eat less.
What Is a Cheat Day?
For many people, one of the hardest parts of going keto is saying goodbye to their favorite high-carb foods and drinks. But is it OK to occasionally stray from the strict plan? For the most part, it turns out: the answer is no.
“When you go off the keto regimen, it interferes with ketosis and it can take several days to get back on track,” explains Bede. “One of the most important factors when it comes to being successful on a diet—any diet—is adherence. So if a little cheat here and there helps you stick with the diet in the long term, go for it. But it’s important to limit the extent-the length and the severity-of that cheat day so that you can get back to your usual keto diet foods and the benefits of ketosis as quickly as possible.”
“When you go off the keto regimen, it interferes with ketosis and it can take several days to get back on track.”
How a Keto Cheat Day May Affect Your Health
Beyond interfering with weight loss goals, there’s another reason why a cheat day on keto can impact your health.
While further research is still needed, preliminary findings from one small study indicate that even a little lapse in the keto plan may spell trouble for heart health. To learn what happens when a person strays from the keto formula, researchers recruited nine healthy young men and asked them to follow a strict regimen of keto diet foods. After one week, they switched things up by feeding the volunteers a drink containing 75 grams of glucose — roughly the amount of sugar in two cans of soda. They then measured substances in the blood, known as microparticles, that help gauge blood vessel damage. The results were surprising.
After just one high sugar drink, the spike in microparticles was consistent with levels found in people with poor heart health. While the study’s researchers aren’t sure of what makes a quick shot of carbs so harmful, they suspect that a sudden surge in glucose damages blood vessel cells. The study didn’t clarify whether such damage was long lasting.
Keto-Approved Craving Control
Next time you’re ready to toss in the keto towel, try one of these treats instead. A small indulgence may help you stay the course without supplying so much glycogen that it takes days and days to return to a state of ketosis. The below items contain 15 grams of carbs or less and could satisfy carb cravings without undoing all your hard work.
- Two ounces of brie cheese and seven small whole-grain crackers (10g carbs).
- A white chocolate coconut ZonePerfect Keto shake (3 total carbs).
- Two cups of air-popped popcorn, one tablespoon of butter and one tablespoon of grated Parmesan cheese (13g carbs).
- One mini dark chocolate bar dipped in one tablespoon of natural peanut butter (8g carbs).
- A ¼ cup of guacamole with five tortilla chips and one sliced green bell pepper (15g carbs).
- Fifteen potato chips (13g carbs).
- A half-slice of thin crust pizza (10g carbs).
- A 16 fl oz bottle of water with a Pedialyte® Sparkling Rush™ Powder Pack mixed in.
If you’re considering the keto diet or any other significant change in your nutrition plan, be sure to consult with your doctor or registered dietitian and make sure it’s the best choice for you.
