What is a ketogenic diet?

By Dr. Stephen Phinney and the Virta Team

‍A ketogenic diet that is restricted in carbs and moderate in protein results in increased production of ketones into a range we call nutritional ketosis. The amount of carbohydrate and protein a person can consume while still promoting nutritional ketosis varies based on many factors, notably the degree of that individual’s underlying insulin resistance. A general range is 30 to 60 grams per day of carbohydrate (closer to 30 grams for those who are more insulin resistant) and somewhere between 1.2 to 2 grams protein per kilogram reference weight per day (more on protein requirements here). There are many ways to formulate a highly palatable ketogenic diet using real foods. But for it to be safe, enjoyable, effective, and sustainable requires consideration of several important principles that extend beyond simply restricting carbohydrate. A well formulated ketogenic diet (WFKD) adequately addresses all these components.

Read more in our deep dive on ketone basics here: https://blog.virtahealth.com/ketone-ketosis-basics/