Make sure you check out the series kickoff first!
When it comes to this “Wrongfully Keto” series, I hope that readers are starting to see a trend. Every article points to the same conclusion that we will go over in this article. That is, YOUR MICRONUTRIENT INTAKE IS INSANELY IMPORTANT. Going about a diet that only focuses on your macronutrient intake is like driving and not paying attention to traffic signals. This is the biggest issue with most individuals who are practicing a “keto” lifestyle. Just because you are getting the majority of your calories from fat and producing ketones, doesn’t mean you are healthy. It is that kind of ignorance that not only gives a fat adapted lifestyle a bad rap, but also hurts people. So if anyone ever tells you that your micronutrient intake doesn’t matter, then please hug them because they probably won’t live as long as you. I know that seems harsh, but sometimes the truth isn’t always rainbows and butterflies.
That being said, I get it. I use to be all about “broscience” and only focused on my carbs, protein, and fat intake. It is probably why I use to have horrible gut health, needed a nap every day, and took an irresponsible dosage of Adderall to focus. Keto aside, it is so important for every single person to understand that micronutrients affect macronutrients. That is essentially the whole point of this series. A clean approach to keto or any diet lies in the fact that you must eat quality, nutritious, and natural food.
Lucky for you and everyone else, you don’t need to do anything special to intake a good amount of micronutrients. Sure supplements can be helpful, but unless you have certain dietary restrictions, then you can get all the vitamins and antioxidants you need from a balanced and whole food approach to eating. On keto, this is even more important. If you follow the guidelines in the previous 4 articles, then I promise you are already on the right track. Good greens, veggies, quality sources of animal proteins, nuts, and pink Himalayan salt give you almost everything you need. That being said, there is one other overlooked micronutrient category that is absent in most diets and fitness trends…
ANTIOXIDANTS!!!
Antioxidants are the final piece of the puzzle that will take you from a keto kid to a Keto King (or Queen). These bad mamajamas protect your cells from damage and reduce inflammation by counteracting oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress is what leads to a lot of chronic illnesses and overall imbalances that affect humans physically and mentally. The biggest issue with oxidative stress is that a lot of foods labeled as “healthy” increase oxidative stress because they are processed, unnatural, and are loaded with artificial sweeteners (most fitness supplements have artificial sweeteners in them). There are also a lot of unavoidable external factors that cause stress in the body as well. This makes it that much more important to avoid foods that cause oxidative stress and consume items that help combat it. Below is a list of a few keto friendly food items that are loaded with these magical micro powerhouses. Try to get a few of them into your diet each day.
- Berries (blueberries have the most)
- Cinnamon (Put it in your coffee!)
- Dark Chocolate
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Eggs
- Brocolli
These definitely are not the only food that gives you antioxidants, but they are some of my favorites. Blueberries and cinnamon are loaded with them and are super easy to get in my belly most days. When finding other sources be wary of vegetable oil, even though it has antioxidants in it. There is a lot more damage than good being done when you consume vegetables (we will get to in another article). For now, just make sure you are eating natural, and most importantly, listening to your body. Do those three things and you will be on track to keto success. Please contact me if you have any questions or even just need some motivation. I am always available.
With Big Love,
Rob Young