Are All Meats Okay To Eat On The Keto Diet?

The keto diet has continued to be celebrated for its ability to promote quick weight loss and better overall health. It works by putting the body into the fat-burning state of ketosis as a result of significantly reducing the amount of carbohydrates one consumes (via Cleveland Clinic). According to Healthline, low-carb diets can deliver health benefits beyond weight loss, including a reduction in appetite, reduced risk of heart disease, and lower blood pressure.

According to Perfect Keto, a standard American diet might include up to 150 grams of carbs per day, while a keto diet restricts that to less than 50 grams per day. Perfect Keto adds that many keto dieters get about 25% of their daily calories from protein and up to 75% from fat. Because of this, meat is an excellent option for satisfying the body while maintaining ketosis.

With so much to keep track of when starting a keto diet, you might wonder if all meats are equally helpful in reaching your goals. Though meats are generally acceptable, there are a few important considerations to ensure you get the most out of your meals.

According to Ketogenic, every meat, including seafood, is perfectly acceptable on a keto diet. But this comes with an important caveat — they must be whole, unprocessed meats. Processed meats, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and deli meats, can have added sugars that will kick your body out of ketosis at high enough levels. Dieters should also watch for seasonings and sauces that might be added to prepackaged meats and pile on extra carbs. Additionally, processed meats sometimes contain unhealthy ingredients such as carrageenan, which could promote digestive distress and inflammation (via Dr. Axe).

Unprocessed, fatty cuts of meat, such as ribeye steak and chicken thighs, are good ways to keep up your keto meal routine, says Men's Health. Healthy higher-fat vegetables, like avocados, can also be an important part of a well-rounded keto diet as well as offer important nutrients (via BBC Good Food).

Meats are perfect for keto diets, but if you're not careful about avoiding the highly processed ones, certain harmful effects can creep in. So while certain types of bacon may be perfect for a keto diet, it might not be the greatest everyday option if the ingredients aren't paid close attention to.