Can I stay in ketosis and not burn fat?

(xysa) #1

I have an inflammatory disorder of the skin (psoriasis) and following keto diet has helped me (been just 1 week but I already see results), but I’m skinny so I don’t think it’s healthy to keep burning whatever little fat I have. You might say I should just eat more fat but the problem is I’m vegetarian and dairy is pro-inflammatory so I have no sources of fat other than what is very little in vegetables. I don’t know what to do… should I quit or does anyone have any advice?

(Chris) #2

Which vegetable fats are you consuming? Anything from canola or vegetable oil bottles is going to be very high in omega-6-rich linoleic acid, which is highly inflammatory.

Luckily, animal fats don’t seem to have this issue at all. Is there a major reason for your choice to be vegetarian? Are you able to eat eggs or fish?

To answer your original title question- no, you won’t burn off all of your fat. Just make sure you’re eating.

(LeeAnn Brooks) #3

It’s harder to do Keto as a vegetarian but not impossible. You can get your fats from avocados, coconut oil and nuts. Particularly macadamia nuts.

There’s someone here doing an all nut diet, at least for a period of time. You could search for it.

(xysa) #4

I’m not particularly looking at the fats, just making sure whatever I eat has low carbs and surely not eating anything that has omega-6, and I guess omega-3 will help me but does it have any other source besides fish?

As weird as this may sound, I did not choose to be a vegetarian, I was raised that way. I’m 18 now, and I don’t think I can get myself to suddenly start eating meat after all these years of avoiding them. I eat eggs but quit them now because they apparently have omega-6? I don’t know but If I am allowed to eat eggs, I would.

And thank you.

(xysa) #5

Avocados are hard to get where I live but can get coconut oil and those nuts. I will look into it, thanks.

#6

Why would you wish to avoid Omega 3 & 6? If you don’t mind me asking?

(xysa) #7

I wouldn’t avoid omega 3 but 6. as 6 is pro-inflammatory and worsens my skin condition.

#8

Ah ok, I see. I hope you find a permanent solution; but it sounds like you are on your way to finding one staring with adopting some keto practices. Good luck.

(Chris) #9

Eggs are fantastic - if you’re concerned about anything, then only buy those labeled as “pastured”.

The quality of egg nutrients goes in the following order:
Grocery store quality
Cage-free: means the cage gets opened once a day or so, whether or not the chicken leaves it
Free-range: the chicken can leave the cage at least once a day and walk around a small area
Pastured: raised ethically and allowed to roam a given area - these are the healthiest. You want a nice dark orange yolk rather than yellow.

(xysa) #10

I hope so too, thanks.

(xysa) #11

I’ll see if I can get those pastured ones, but are you sure they won’t contribute to inflammation?

(Chris) #12

July 11 is my 365th day eating only animals - beef, eggs and bacon primarily. My inflammation is low AF. :smile:

(xysa) #13

Well then great, I’ll start eating eggs!

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #14

Welcome to the forums!

A well-formulated ketogenic diet isn’t so much a weight-loss diet as it is a weight-normalization diet. It promotes metabolic health and healing, and the loss of any excess fat is part of that healing. Since you don’t have any excess fat to lose, you aren’t likely to lose any more. Just be sure to eat well and keep your calories up by eating fat to satiety. It’s harder to do a ketogenic diet as a vegetarian, but I understand that it can be done. For more information, look in the Vegetables section of the Food forum.

#15

Can you eat animal products that aren’t obviously meat? Like, could you start using stuff like lard when cooking? Is being vegetarian an absolute, more or less?

If it is, I’d recommend avocado oil. I use it in place of dairy sometimes when I’m baking for friends with allergies - it has less of a taste to it than coconut oil, if that’s important.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #16

I suppose it depends on why one is vegetarian, but I personally have never understood the objection to eating dairy and unfertilized eggs, since they involve no loss of life. I quite understand why lard and tallow would be out, since they do involve the loss of a life. I suppose this is an issue that we must each decide for ourself.

Of course, I have come to understand that a lot of people have physical reactions to dairy, quite apart from lactose intolerance. . . .

(xysa) #17

Thank you, and my skin is the reason why I choose to avoid dairy, I’m allergic to it.

(xysa) #18

Actually yes, I want to remain vegetarian. And is olive oil fine too? If not, I can get avocado oil…

#19

I’ve experimented with a lot of baking with different types of oils, and it depends on what you’re aiming for. Olive oil has more of a taste and a lower smoke point, so I find it works well in savoury recipes. Avocado oil is more expensive, but has a higher smoke point and it has the least taste to it, so it works well in sweet recipes. (Coconut oil is a good sub for butter and you can fry with it, but you may not want the coconut taste)

Olive oil is fine, relatively low in omega-6. If you’re frying anything, I recommend avocado oil if you can get it, because it’s a much better alternative to many processed seed oils and olive oil definitely smokes too much. It’s got a similar profile for omega-6 to olive oil as well.

Overall - coconut oil is your friend for general use, olive oil for low heat cooking and for putting on salads, and avocado oil (if you can get it/afford it) for high heat cooking.

(xysa) #20

Thank you very much.