Have you ever had a keto question?
If so, Keto Answers absolutely delivers as the premier low-carb resource and authoritative keto encyclopedia.
This is the first publication from Dr. Anthony Gustin, DC, MS and Chris Irvin, MS. You can find it here on Amazon.
Briefly about the authors,
Dr. Gustin is a functional medicine clinician and used low-carb, real food diets with thousands of clients. He is also the founder and CEO of Perfect Keto.
Chris’s background is as a nutrition science researcher and writer with an expertise in ketogenic dieting. He is also the Education Manager at Perfect Keto.
Together, Dr. Gustin and Chris host the Top 50 health podcast, The Keto Answers Podcast.
Regardless of your education or experience, this book is your ultimate weapon in overcoming obstacles and achieving your health goals. Keto is not easy. It flies in the face of most conventional wisdom on nutrition. There is a lot to sort out, which is tough when there is an avalanche of information on the internet.
I wish this book was around when I started keto.
Why I Started Keto
When I first got started with keto, my main goal was simply to lose weight, and I had the hopes of losing that weight quickly.
After a couple of failed attempts to enter ketosis (I was truly unaware about how so many foods had high amounts of carbs), I decided to get serious and start researching all of the questions I had.
That research is partly why I started Keto Lifehacker in the first place. And after reading Keto Answers, I absolutely know that I would’ve shortened my weight loss timeline and would have suffered a lot less trial and error if the book was around when I was first getting into this diet.
Here’s what you can expect from the book:
The Format of Keto Answers
- 268 most asked keto questions in Q&A format.
- 50+ beautifully designed infographics
Picture yourself as the host of a Keto Answers Podcast episode and your guests are Dr. Anthony Gustin and Chris Irvin. This is an engaging conversation, not a lecture.
How to Read Keto Answers
You can either read it front to back or use it as a keto reference guide to revisit when you have a question. Keep your post-it notes and highlighter handy.
The book is broken down into 4 sections. I’ll share the highlights of what you’ll find in each and I’ll include a few infographics along the way.
Introduction: How Did We Get Here?
In today’s world, we’re constantly inundated with content about nutrition. Too much inaccurate information not backed by science.
However, this isn’t just a problem that exists today. In fact, Ancel Keys, a very successful scientist led the charge on demonizing fat as a cause for heart disease and is a huge reason why we’re here today. Obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are the most prevalent they’ve ever been.
In contrast, history gets it right sometimes. After all, Hippocrates famously said, “Let food by thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” around 400 BC.
Why Keto Now?
Dr. Gustin and Chris Irvin believe these to be the four pillars of health:
Each plays an essential role in health, but nutrition is at the top as it has the largest impact on overall health and wellbeing. Given you have control over what you eat, keto (done right) is a powerful tool in teaching you that nutrition can change how you experience life.
Keto is crucial right now because it will help reverse the damage of this massive failed nutrition experiment we’ve run on ourselves for the past 30 years.
Part 1: Keto 101
Chapter 1: Understanding Keto
- If you’re just starting keto, this is the foundational keto knowledge you need:
- What is keto?
- How is keto different than Atkins or other low-carb diets?
- What do I eat on keto?
Chapter 2: Debunking Nutrition Myths
Here, the authors break apart the most common misconceptions about nutrition.
Top questions answered:
- Don’t we need carbs?
- What do carbs do and how much should I eat?
- Doesn’t high-fat cause high cholesterol?
Check out this eye opening graphic on micronutrient absorption in veggies vs. meats!
Part 2: Ketosis in Action
Ketosis in Action details all of the amazing benefits of keto as they pertain to wellness, body composition, and performance.
Chapter 3: Wellness Benefits of Keto
- Keto Answers dives into how keto leads to increased energy, improved mood, blood sugar stability, increased satiety, improved brain function, and disease prevention/management.
Chapter 4: Body Composition Benefits
Top questions covered:
- How do I lose fat?
- Do I need to work out?
- Will I maintain my weight loss/muscle gain results in the long term?
Chapter 5: Performance Benefits
Top Questions Answered:
- Are carbs essential for performance and recovery?
- How does keto affect endurance and strength?
- What sports is keto best for?
Part 3: Ketosis and You
Now that you’re equipped with all the core information, the authors empower you to do keto with confidence. This is where the authors help make keto work for you.
Chapter 6: Keto Foods
Top Questions Answered:
- What do I shop for at the grocery store?
- What are the best meats, seafood, dairy, produce, fruits, nuts, oils, coffee, tea, and fats to eat?
- How do I structure my keto meal plan?
Chapter 7: Starting Keto
Top Questions Answered:
- What are some best practices to mitigate the infamous keto flu?
- How can I speed up the transition into ketosis?
- Do I count net or total carbs?
Here’s a simple reference plate for starting keto:
Chapter 8: Using Supplements on Keto
Top Questions Answered:
- Electrolytes 101:
- What protein should I supplement keto with?
- What is the difference between MCT and coconut oil?
Chapter 9: Fasting and Keto
Top Questions Answered:
- What’s the difference between intermittent fasting and keto?
- Why should I consider fasting and how do I do it?
- What are the different ways to fast and which is best for me?
For more examples, you can check out my reviews of the OMAD Fast (One Meal A Day), and The Warrior Diet (20/4) fasting protocols.
A good example of the Alternate Day Fast is the Eat-Stop-Eat method, which you can learn more about right here.
Chapter 10: Different Types of Keto
Top Questions Answered:
- What are all the different types of keto?
- How do I do each type of keto?
- How do I know which one is right for me?
I actually recently wrote a whole guide explaining the Carnivore Diet, which you can check out here.
Chapter 11: Keto for Women
Top Questions Answered
- Is keto safe for women and how does it affect female hormones?
- Can you do keto during pregnancy?
- How can keto help treat PCOS?
Chapter 12: How to Stay Keto
Top Questions Answered:
- Sustaining a keto diet: how can I make it a lifestyle?
- How do I prepare to travel on keto?
- What are traditional carb sources that I can swap for better options on keto?
Chapter 13: Self-Experimentation and Tracking
Top Questions Answered:
- What should I track, how should I track it, and how do I adjust according to my goals?
- How do I use all this data to optimize my nutrition, sleep, movement, and stress?
- What’s most important to track based on my experience?
Ultimately Keto Answers provided me with all of the answers I spent hours searching for at the beginning of this keto diet journey. What’s even better, is that it’s been ordered in a way that is perfect for any level of keto dieter.
Even if you consider yourself an expert, it’s full of tips and tricks to help you optimize your ketosis and get the most out of the diet’s benefits. If you’re a beginner, it’s the perfect step by step guide to help get you off carbs, stay on track within the limits of the keto diet, and help you achieve the results that you’re after.
The book is on sale today, and you can order it right now here.