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Losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle is a common desire in this modern age. To do this, some people choose to live with strict diets so that they can lose large amounts of weight. The Keto Diet is one of these eating regimens that has gained results and increased in popularity over the past several years.

Keto Day was created to celebrate everything to do with the ketogenic style of eating. So get ready to learn more about and celebrate keto!

History of National Keto Day

Accidentally stumbled upon in the late 1800s, the first known predecessor of the keto diet was discovered by a man from London, England. When William Banting found that he was becoming obese, he took things into his own hands and began limiting what he ate.

Banting reduced his diet to small amounts of meat, some vegetables and the occasional cup of tea, while cutting out bread, sugar, beer and potatoes. What he didn’t expect is that he would lose more than 50 pounds on this eating regimen. He was so excited about the results that he felt he needed to share them with the world. He published a free booklet called, Letter on Corpulence, Addressed to the Public.

Though this diet wasn’t perfectly keto, it was a good beginning. Even so, this style of eating was mostly brushed aside by those in the medical community until it was revived in the 1920s.

Originally developed as a treatment for epilepsy, the ketogenic diet was created by Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The idea for diets that include fasting from certain foods was not new but, at the time of its creation in 1924, this one showed promise in regulating epilepsy until anticonvulsant medications appeared in the 1930s. Even following the use of anticonvulsant drugs, the keto diet has continued to be used to control epilepsy in pediatric patients and others with pharmacological resistance.

It wasn’t until several decades later that the ketogenic diet made its way into popular use. By 2019, The Vitamin Shoppe founded National Keto Day to raise awareness and educate about the benefits around the ketogenic diet. And now, Keto Day is the time to learn more and celebrate everything to do with this special diet.

National Keto Day Timeline

1860s

A Londoner accidentally discovers keto

Eating mostly meat with occasional vegetables and tea, William Banting loses 50+ pounds and publishes the booklet “Letter on Corpulence” in 1863.[1]

1924

Keto diet is developed 

Dr. Russell Wilder of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, USA develops the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy.[2]

1970s

Paleo diet concept begins 

The “caveman diet” still takes a couple of decades to gain popularity and become a household fad.[3]

1972

The Atkins Diet is released 

A cardiologist publishes Dr. Atkins’ Diet Revolution, legitimizing the low-carb and high-fat style of eating.[4]

1994

NBC’s Dateline features the keto diet 

Featuring the story of 2 year old Charlie Abrahams, this Dateline story brings media exposure to the keto diet.[5]

How to Celebrate National Keto Day

Get involved and connected with National Keto Day in a variety of interesting ways that can help to meet weight loss goals. Try out some of these ideas to get started:

Learn More About the Keto Diet

One of the best ways to celebrate National Keto Day is to get more educated about the benefits and risks of the keto diet, and to see if it might be right to try. Consider some of these important facts about the ketogenic diet:

  • The keto diet changes the metabolism. The diet works to lead a person to a state of ketosis, which means that the body runs out of carbs for energy and instead burns fat and ketones for fuel.
  • Too much ketosis can be dangerous. It is possible to go too far into ketosis, so it’s important to check with a doctor to be sure everything is healthy.
  • Keto has a special formula. It is necessary to stick to the right percentages when on the keto diet: 70-75% fat, 20-25% protein and 5-10% carbs.
  • The keto diet may have side effects. Many people experience the “keto flu” during the first week of the diet. In addition, some people may be at increased risk of kidney stones, nutritious deficiencies and even heart disease.

Host a Keto Day Gathering

Whether you’re a person who has been on the keto diet for a long time or you’re just getting interested in the idea, it might be fun to gather some friends who are also interested and host a Keto Day Party. The sky’s the limit as far as what to serve, as long as it meets the requirements of the keto diet.

Try some of the recipe ideas listed below or perform a search on the internet. It might even be fun to have each guest bring a different one of their favorite keto dishes to share, so everyone can have a try!

Try Some New Keto Recipes

Although it might sound like a diet that doesn’t contain many carbs and sugars wouldn’t be very tasty, that simply isn’t the case! Since its resurgence, many people have been coming up with some amazing and delicious recipes that just about anyone will love! Get started by trying some of these recipe ideas in celebration of Keto Day:

  • Caramel Bulletproof Keto Coffee Creamer. Use this one in that cup of coffee each morning to bring a delicious boost. Add 4 tbsp each of sugar free caramel syrup and butter, 2 tbsp. MCT oil and 2 cans of full fat unsweetened coconut milk.
  • Keto Fat Bombs. Almonds, coconut oil, sugar free vanilla extract, orange zest, salt and unsweetened cocoa powder.
  • Fudgy Keto Brownies. Even someone on a keto diet doesn’t have to give up delicious brownies! Butter, cocoa powder, eggs, heavy cream, almond flour, salt, chopped nuts and sweetener all make up this delicious recipe.
  • Keto Tuna Salad Cups. Mix up some tuna salad with egg, mayo, bacon, celery, sour cream, and scallions. Serve in beds of lettuce cups.

Take Some Extra Vitamins

One important factor to remember about the keto diet is that the lack of fruits and lower amount of veggies can make it difficult to get enough vitamins each day. For this reason, it is vital to supplement with a daily multivitamin with minerals. Of course, this should be done not only on Keto Day, but every day!

In addition to a daily multivitamin, it may also be a good idea to add in some extra supplements such as Vitamin D, Magnesium, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and digestive enzymes. For the best results consult with a doctor to get their recommendations on supplements to take when on a keto diet.

National Keto Day FAQs

What is a keto diet?

A keto (ketogenic) diet is a low-carb diet that focuses on getting calories from protein and fat.[1]

Can keto cause kidney stones?

Kidney stones are a well known potential side effect of the keto diet, between 5.9% and 7.9% in adults.[2]

How many carbs are on a keto diet?

A ketogenic diet usually reduces carbohydrates to 50 grams or less per day.[3]

Are keto diets healthy?

Keto is a medical diet that comes with certain health risks and a medical doctor should be consulted.[4]

Is it normal to have ketones in urine?

Having ketones in the urine is normal, but high ketones can be a problem and may be a complication of diabetes.[5]

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