The popular keto diet—which emphasizes eating minimal carbohydrates and high amounts of fat—has been shown to promote short-term weight loss, but some experts question whether it’s a good long-term option.
The diet’s restrictions on carbohydrates (5-10% of total daily calories, along with 70-80% from fat and 10-20% from protein) require limiting healthy foods such as whole grains, fruits, and some vegetables.
“I don’t feel particularly comfortable telling people to reduce intake of things that we know offer benefits for health,” Vasanti Malik, adjunct assistant professor of nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a January 18, 2020 USA Today article.
Malik favors eating patterns that focus on food quality, rather than calorie restriction. She recommends eating whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts, while limiting saturated fat, added sugar, and added sodium.
Read the USA Today article: Keto diet isn’t the answer for weight loss, experts say. Here’s what is