A keto lifestyle is great for weight loss and brain function. It even reduces the risks of certain diseases, including cancer. So, sticking to a keto diet is healthy and, in fact, rewarding.
However, it becomes a bit less fun when you have to wonder whether or not something fits into your diet. Like when you're considering adding a starchy vegetable but can't figure out whether or not that's fine. After all, it's vegetables, but again, we're talking about a starchy vegetable.
It can sometimes get confusing, especially with proteins like meat. We understand that. So, we've prepared a guide to help you know whether or not beef sticks and keto are. You'll also find out if it's OK to have beef jerky when on a keto diet.
Keto Lifestyle: What Does a Keto Diet Entail?
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet and takes its name from the biological process known as ketosis. It entails a drastic reduction in carbohydrates consumed. The carbohydrate cut is then replaced with fat. Without carbohydrates, the body switches to fat as its energy source. This improves fat burning tremendously.
Ketogenic Diet Types
When someone embarks on a ketogenic lifestyle journey, they typically follow one of the four keto diet variants.
1. The Standard Ketogenic Diet
The standard ketogenic diet includes low carbohydrate, moderate protein, and high-fat meals. This ketogenic diet typically contains about 10% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 70% fat.
2. The Cyclical Ketogenic Diet
This Ketogenic Diet, as its name suggests, is cyclical. In a cyclical keto diet, one follows a standard keto diet 5–6 days a week and enjoys 1-2 days of higher carbohydrate intake the next, and the cycle continues.
3. A Targeted Ketogenic Diet
The targeted ketogenic diet is similar to the standard keto diet. The only exception is that you get to eat carbs around your workout. This approach is to help you get through intense workouts and aid post-workout recovery.
4. High-Protein Ketogenic Diet
The high-protein ketogenic diet is a keto diet that allows for more protein. As such, it's usually about 35% protein compared to 20% in standard keto diets.
All types of ketogenic diets are beneficial to the body. However, only bodybuilders or gym enthusiasts often adopt cyclical and targeted ketogenic diets. So, if you're looking to begin your keto journey, we suggest you consider the standard or high-protein ketogenic diets.
Can You Enjoy Beef Jerky on a Keto Diet?
Yes. Whether on a standard, cyclical, targeted, or high-protein keto diet, beef is safe for your consumption. Beef jerky is a suitable snack for anyone cutting down on carbohydrates.
What Makes Beef Jerky Keto-Friendly?
A keto meal is expected to be low in carbohydrates and supply healthy amounts of protein and fat—beef jerky checks all these boxes.
Protein
Beef jerky is a protein-rich snack that is easy to buy and delightful to eat. Up to 60% of beef jerky is protein. This ratio may vary depending on the meat type and ingredients used. However, it is established that beef jerky is rich in protein.
Healthy Fats
Talk about a snack that's generally low in fat yet contains the right amount of healthy fat. Beef jerky contains conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the body.
Low Carbohydrate
You can get beef jerky with a carbohydrate content as low as 1 gram. At Holy Jerky, we offer many of these beef jerky types. However, beef jerky may also contain as much as 12g of carbohydrates. So, you get to choose.
Are beef sticks keto-friendly?
Frankly, beef sticks are one of the most accessible keto-friendly options you can find on the market. However, it's crucial to ensure that it is natural with no addictive properties.
Benefits of Keto Diets
- A keto diet can significantly reduce blood sugar and insulin levels
- A ketogenic diet may also improve acne.
- A study even found the ketogenic diet to be a complementary diet to radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
- A keto diet may also improve heart health and reduce the risks of certain diseases.
- Some research also suggests that ketosis, which is induced by ketogenic diets, may tone down epilepsy syndromes in patients.
Keto Friendly Beef Jerky: Tips for Getting Healthy
- Aim for beef jerky packs with a shorter ingredient list—usually, the shorter, the better.
- Target beef jerky with lower carbohydrate percentages. After all, the lower the carbs, the more keto-friendly it is.
- Read the beef jerky label carefully. Go through the ingredient list. Avoid beef jerky with unfamiliar ingredients.
- Be deliberate about your beef jerky brand. Buy your beef jerky from a brand like Holy Jerky. Holy Jerky beef jerky is sugar-free, made of all-natural ingredients, and 100% grass-fed cattle. Plus, customers rate the brand 4.8 out of 5.
Bottom Line
Ketogenic diets are healthy, but they don't have to be boring. Eating beef jerky is a healthy snack you can add to your diet. Interestingly, Holy Jerky beef jerky comes in a variety of flavors. So, whatever your preference is, you can delight your taste buds with a nutritious and tasty snack.
