New diet fad on the block! What is lazy keto?

The ketogenic or keto diet has found many followers in the last few years, who tout its benefits for weight loss and lifestyle diseases. However, it is often argued that the high-fat, high-protein and low-carb keto diet can be very restrictive and may be hard to follow.  

This has given birth to a relatively new phenomenon called the ‘lazy keto’ diet. An offshoot of the regular keto, the lazy version does not require you to dramatically increase the proportion of fats in your daily diet. You do have to limit your carbohydrate intake to around 10 per cent of your total daily calories. 

Regular Keto vs Lazy Keto 

Someone on a regular keto would get up to 60 per cent of their calories from fats, 30 to 35 per cent from protein and 5 to 10 per cent from carbs. Whereas, a lazy or dirty keto follower may only focus on cutting back on carbs to below 10 per cent.  

What are the main criticisms of lazy keto?  

• While some research has been done for regular keto’s benefits and claims, there exists no scientific research backing the weight loss claims of ‘dirty keto’ lovers. 

• The lack of guidelines on the other two macronutrients, fats and protein, makes lazy keto easier but it may also be its downfall. Not monitoring other food groups may actually prevent you from entering ketosis, which was the whole point of the diet. 

• Lazy keto might open the doors for poor-quality fats. Given the flexibility on fat and protein, people might opt for packaged and processed foods that don’t provide adequate micronutrients like vitamins and antioxidants.  

Ultimately, the lazy keto might help your body burn fat instead of carbs for energy but its long-term negative health effects might actually not be worth the trouble. So, we’ll advise you to consult your doctor before making any big dietary changes.  

Also Read: Diet versus exercise: expert advice on weight loss