The vegetarian keto diet, dubbed the “ketotarian” diet, is a low-carbohydrate plant-based diet.
It emphasizes healthy fats and moderate plant-based protein while limiting carbohydrates.
Essentially, a vegetarian keto diet aims for more pronounced health benefits than is achieved with either diet individually.
Research on the vegetarian keto diet is limited. Still, its use is encouraged for weight loss, heart health, and blood sugar management.
While this dietary pattern may benefit weight loss, it may not be sustainable for some individuals.
This article explains the vegetarian keto diet, its health benefits, safety considerations, and the challenges of adopting this eating pattern.
Debate exists about whether a vegetarian keto eating plan is better than regular keto for weight management.
Limited research exists on vegetarian keto diets for weight management. One study reported in 2023 followed people for four years and observed less weight gain among those who ate a vegetarian keto diet than those who consumed a traditional, animal-based keto diet.
Studies comparing a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and a low-fat plant-based diet yield mixed results. Ketogenic and low-fat vegetarian diets influence appetite, leading to weight loss. However, how these diets affect weight loss is unclear and may depend on the percentage of calories from fat.
Additional research suggests that the lower energy density of plant-based foods contributes to weight loss.
Other sources note an increased thermic effect of food with more plant-based items. The thermic effect of food reflects the energy required for the body to digest something. It contributes about 10% to the amount of energy the body burns in a given day (total energy expenditure).
Ultimately, more research is needed to decipher the advantages of vegetarian keto for weight management over other eating patterns.
The vegetarian keto diet harnesses the health effects of unsaturated fats and lean proteins with the low-carbohydrate benefits of the ketogenic diet.
Although research is limited, studies show a positive impact of a low-carbohydrate, vegetarian diet on weight, heart health, and type 2 diabetes.
A ketogenic diet was initially designed to treat people with epilepsy, but it has since become more mainstream, with individuals trying it for weight loss and type 2 diabetes management.
Research shows that plant-based foods like vegetable proteins, oils, nuts, and fiber support health. Specifically, these foods reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease and contribute to weight management.
A vegetarian keto diet emphasizes plant-based fats like oils, nuts, and avocados. It restricts carbohydrates like whole grains, fruit, legumes, and starchy vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables and low-carbohydrate proteins like soy are acceptable.
For a vegetarian keto diet, you must achieve and maintain ketosis. Ketosis is when the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates (glucose) for fuel. Fat is converted into molecules called ketones that provide energy to the body, namely the brain.
Ketosis requires carbohydrate restriction. On a ketogenic diet (whether plant-based or regular), most calories are from fat, and some are from protein. Carbohydrates are restricted to 20 to 50 grams daily (approximately one to three pieces of bread) or 5% to 10% of total calories.
There are no long-term studies on the vegetarian keto diet. Still, it is likely challenging to sustain.
Although transitioning to vegetarian keto may be easier for individuals already eating a plant-based diet, vegetarian keto further restricts foods by almost eliminating grains and fruit, two food groups ripe with essential vitamins and nutrients.
Research on the vegetarian keto diet focuses on its effects on weight, heart health, and insulin sensitivity, or insulin resistance (when cells do not respond well to insulin and can’t take up glucose from the blood, requiring the pancreas to produce more insulin). Its emphasis on unsaturated fat sources contributes to heart health, but it is less clear how the diet influences weight and insulin sensitivity.
Few studies show the benefits of a vegetarian keto diet for type 2 diabetes. A step beyond vegetarian keto, a low-carbohydrate vegan diet, improved insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes in one study. In that study, the low-carbohydrate vegan diet excluded dairy and eggs but included animal-meat replacement products and canola oil-enriched foods.
The low-carbohydrate vegan diet reduced hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels by 0.99% in people with type 2 diabetes. HbA1c is used to diagnose type 2 diabetes and reflects average blood sugar over three to four months.
Though research on vegetarian keto diets for insulin sensitivity is limited, other research supports the use of ketogenic and vegetarian diets for diabetes management.
Significant research supports vegetarian or vegan diets to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) and slow the progression of heart disease. Elevated LDL cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Swapping saturated fat from animals for unsaturated fats from oils and nuts is associated with heart-healthy benefits.
One study observed a decrease in calculated 10-year coronary heart disease risk scores with a vegetarian keto diet. Moreover, the low-carbohydrate vegetarian diet reduced LDL cholesterol by 9%. Carbohydrates constituted 26% of calories and fat 43%, mainly from vegetable oils.
When thinking about heart health, it’s important to note some plant-based saturated fat sources, such as coconut and palm oil. High saturated fat intake may increase the risk of heart conditions.
A vegetarian keto diet is highly nutrient-dense. Still, it is vital to ensure you meet nutrition and calorie requirements. Topping dishes with nuts and seeds boosts calorie content and provides a source of fiber.
The following are foods to include with a vegetarian keto diet:
Options for a vegetarian keto breakfast include egg-and-vegetable scrambles or chia pudding with coconut milk.
For lunch, try a kale salad with cucumbers, zucchini, and mushrooms topped with grilled tofu, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds.
Dinner is roasted tempeh with grilled asparagus and broccoli. Sprinkle with hemp hearts for extra protein and fat.
Despite its health benefits, a vegetarian keto diet can be challenging. Maintaining adequate nutrition and continuing lifestyle habits like dining out requires additional thought.
A vegetarian keto diet omits certain foods, so nutrient deficiencies are possible. Common nutrient deficiencies among vegetarians include vitamins B12 and D, calcium, and iron.
Many vegetarians get B vitamins from fortified grains rather than animal products. However, a vegetarian keto diet limits many food sources of B vitamins, such as fortified cereals and grains. People adhering to a vegetarian keto eating pattern should be mindful of B vitamin deficiencies.
A multivitamin or supplementing vitamin B12, a B-complex, or vitamin D may be necessary to prevent nutrient deficiencies with a vegetarian keto diet. A registered dietitian can help you choose the right supplements.
Social situations like dining out or going to friends’ houses can be challenging to navigate on a vegetarian keto diet. To make eating at other people’s houses easier, bring a vegetarian keto dish to share with others.
When dining out, look at the menu ahead of time. Scan for low-carb, vegetarian protein sources like tofu, and be mindful of sauces. Try requesting tofu with a salad or steamed, baked, or grilled vegetables.
Alternatively, adjust your meals to save your daily carbohydrate allotment for dining out. Still, focus on high-fiber starches, such as beans, lentils, quinoa, or sweet potatoes.
The following health conditions warrant additional consideration with a vegetarian keto diet:
It is best to consult your healthcare provider before adopting a new diet like vegetarian keto.
Adopting and sticking with a new eating pattern requires planning and reconfiguring your environment. Some strategies for success include meal planning and using monitoring tools like urine ketone tests, macronutrient trackers, and monitoring your blood sugar.
Attaining and remaining in ketosis is crucial for a vegetarian keto diet. A urine ketone test can help you determine whether your body uses fat for energy. Ketones in urine represent a state of ketosis.
Urine ketone tests help monitor progress toward ketosis and whether you continue relying on fat for energy. Purchase urine ketone tests at pharmacies or online.
Familiarize yourself with the nutrition facts label and carbohydrate counting. Maintaining ketosis requires a low carbohydrate intake. You may be surprised how quickly carbohydrates add up without reading labels or tracking
Calorie- or carbohydrate-counting applications help ensure you stay within macronutrient recommendations. Adjust the macronutrient distribution so that most of your calories come from fat and carbohydrates are restricted.
As you become more accustomed to vegetarian keto foods, decrease your carbohydrate intake to achieve ketosis.
When trying a lower-carbohydrate diet, monitoring your blood sugar can help you detect any significant changes. In addition to monitoring ketones, this can also help you detect whether you’ve reached ketosis.
Moreover, you can see how your changes in blood sugar levels correlate with how you feel in the short and long term.
You can monitor your glucose levels by using a fingerprick test (glucometer) from your local pharmacy or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
You can use these whether you have diabetes or not.
Sticking to a specific way of eating can be challenging when you’re hungry and lack readily available foods. Stock up on vegetarian keto foods. Map a few weekly meals and keep nutrient-dense, keto-friendly foods on hand. Planning is key with the vegetarian keto diet.
Vegetarian keto-friendly snacks include the following:
Keep nuts and seeds in your backpack or purse for a convenient, shelf-stable snack for when hunger strikes.
A registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN) can assist you with the switch to vegetarian keto. They also advise on specific foods and individualized macronutrient targets.
The vegetarian keto diet incorporates elements of vegetarianism and the ketogenic diet.
It is an eating pattern that emphasizes fats—unsaturated fats, mainly oils and nuts—and limits carbohydrates, such as desserts, pastries, whole grains, and fruit.
The vegetarian keto diet supports weight loss, heart health, and blood sugar management.
However, it can be challenging to implement and maintain.
A registered dietitian can help with transitioning to vegetarian keto and achieving ketosis.
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