Low Carb vs Keto - What’s the difference? – ReVitalise Daily Electrolytes

In recent times the lines have become blurred between low carb and keto.

Strictly speaking here are the main differences.

Keto or Ketogenic diets are very low carb 5% or less carbs per day and 80% plus fat. They were ‘discovered’ and used for the clinical treatment of epileptic patients mostly kids to control seizures. A clinical Ketogenic diet is very difficult to maintain 100% compliance for obvious reasons. Clinical ketogenic diets are very good for losing fat weight fast and can be a great solution for people who need to lose weight for medical reasons or to manage or control medical conditions.

Low carb diets were brought to mainstream adoption by Robert Atkins. As a cardiologist,, he ‘discovered’ that putting his patients who needed to lose weight before being allowed to have surgery, were most successful on a low-carb diet more than any other method. A Low-carb approach is not as restrictive as a ketogenic diet with a daily range of carbs of 20 -120g per day depending on how much weight loss is required. Many people now choose to eat low-carb/keto everyday to manage their weight, feel more alert, and generally feel better and healthier with the reduced carb intake.

Most people now refer to a Keto diet when referring to either a very strict diet or a traditional low carb diet interchangeably. I believe this due to cutting carbs becoming more accepted as the norm for healthy eating and sporting performance and now only weight loss.

It is a good idea to move between strict keto (less than 20g carbs per day) and low carb (daily keto) depending on your weight loss and or training goals at the time.