Ketogenic and obesity diets are known for their many health benefits, such as reducing the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease (*, *).
A vegetarian diet is basically a vegetarian diet that includes fish and seafood. Meanwhile, the ketogenic diet reduces the entry of carbohydrates into a metabolic state of ketosis.
If you are interested in a low-carb eating approach and want to get your nutrition from plant foods, fish and seafood – the keto diet may be for you.
This article shows you why combining the pescatarian and keto diets might be a good idea, and a list of foods to eat, tips for getting started, and a sample meal plan.
What is a Pescatarian Keto?
The Scarlet Keto Diet is an eating plan that incorporates certain aspects of the keto fish diet and the keto diet.
In other words, a person who follows this dietary strategy will restrict carbohydrates to only 20-50 grams per day while avoiding all animal products except for fish, seafood, eggs and dairy products.
When it comes to vegetables and fruits, these are limited to low-carb options, such as leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, avocados, and berries. Most nuts and seeds are allowed because they are low in net carbs.
70-80% of your daily calories should come from fat, while 20-30% should come from protein. There are plenty of healthy fat sources to choose from that provide omega-3 fatty acids
.
Benefits of Combining the Keto Diet and the Pescatarian Diet
Following the keto diet may be more effective at improving certain aspects of your health (or reaching specific goals) than one diet alone.
1. Achieving better control of blood sugarKeeping blood sugar levels within an acceptable range helps avoid problems, especially if you are at risk of developing prediabetes or already have diabetes (
*).
In a traditional vegetarian fish diet, a lot of food choices tend to be high in carbohydrates, which can spike your blood sugar.
Examples include starchy vegetables, such as white potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, walnuts, and taro. It is also best to avoid fruits that are rich in simple sugars (fructose and glucose) as they easily increase your carbohydrate intake. Stay away from sweeter fruits like bananas, apples, grapes, mangoes, and pineapples.
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Studies have shown that a low-carb diet may lead to rapid improvements in blood sugar control. Moreover, it reduces insulin resistance to prevent the onset of diabetes (*, *, *). A 2021 narrative review also shows that limiting carbohydrate intake prevents this glucose toxicity
or impaired function of beta cells (cells that secrete insulin)
.
2. Lose weight and keep it off for the long term
While both the fish and keto diets help with weight loss, combining them is likely to produce lasting results.
This is because restricting carbohydrates depletes your glycogen stores, causing your body to burn stored fat to produce ketones for energy.
.
Low-carb diets are also known to suppress hunger compared to other traditional approaches to weight loss. For example, 17 obese men in a cross-sectional study not only lost more weight, but also reported experiencing less hunger when following a low-carb diet (*,*).
If you are an athlete or lead a physically active lifestyle, one study showed that the peak of whole body fat oxidation (or fat breakdown) is greater on the keto diet during exercise, compared to other diets with varying overall ratios.
.
However, it is possible to use a low-carb diet for sustainable fat loss.
3. Eat high levels of omega-3 fatty acids
Pescatar residents eat fish and seafood, which are excellent food sources of omega-3s.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that may reduce inflammation, thus helping reduce the risk of cancer, arthritis, and neurodegenerative diseases.
.
It is also famous for its cardiovascular benefits by lowering triglyceride levels and increasing levels of good HDL cholesterol (*,*).
In addition to fish and seafood, you can get omega-3s from plant sources like walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and Brussels sprouts. These are all low in net carbs, which makes them keto-friendly.
4. Avoid nutritional deficiency A vegetarian diet can be lacking in some nutrients that are more abundant in foods from animal sources. Examples of these nutrients include protein, vitamin B12, iron, and taurine, which play vital roles in the body. That’s why people who follow a plant-based diet should make sure they get all the nutrients they need – whether through supplementation or finding other foods that contain them.
Because glycogen, which is the storage form of carbohydrates, is stored with water molecules in your muscles. When glycogen is broken down, water is also excreted through the urine
.
At the same time, you lose salts such as sodium and potassium.
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While you are in ketosis, be sure to replace lost electrolytes through proper nutrition and a keto-friendly electrolyte drink.
5. You can build muscle
Since a low-carb diet contains more protein sources than a vegetarian diet alone, you can work on gaining muscle as well as losing body fat (aka body recombination).
A study of 8 high-profile athletes found that a low-carb diet had no negative impact on their strength performance. While their menu was not purely vegetarian, it did include fish, raw and cooked vegetables, eggs, and cheese.
- .
- In another study, women between the ages of 20 and 40 who did resistance training for 10 weeks while on a keto diet lost body fat while maintaining lean body mass. The ratios of calories from carbohydrates, fats and protein were as follows: 6, 66, and 22, respectively
- .
- On top of ensuring the right amounts of protein and resistance training, it’s important to slightly increase your calorie intake and to use carbohydrates strategically (eg, eat them during training sessions to support your performance.
Read more: A Guide to Building Muscle on Keto
- List of Pescatarian Keto Foods
- Here is a list of healthy foods you can eat:
- vegetables
- Leafy greens: spinach, kale, Swiss chard, watercress, and romaine lettuce
- Cruciferous vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, collard greens, watercress
- Herbs and spices: garlic, onion, ginger, paprika, turmeric, black and white pepper
Others: asparagus, mushrooms, olives, eggplant, peppers, green beans, peas.
- the fruit
- avocado
- Tomatoes
- blueberry
- raspberry
- Strawberry
- coconut meat
fish
- tuna
- salmon
- anchovies
- sardines
- swordfish
- mackerel
- trout
- Seafood
oysters
- abalone
- Octopus
- squid
- Shrimp
- slugs
- mussels
- crab
- Nuts and seeds
- pecans
Walnuts
- almonds
- hazelnut
- Brazil nuts
- flaxseed
- chia seeds
Sesame seeds
- sunflower seeds
- Eggs and dairy products
- egg
- cheese
- Yogurt
- ghee
- Textures heavy whipping cream
- Drinks
Water sparkling water
coffee
Low carb green juice
Low carb fruit juice
Almond milk
dairy milk
Important:
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or considering pregnancy, it is best to avoid eating raw or undercooked fish. This is to reduce the risk of exposure to potentially harmful bacteria that can affect you and your baby. Also check with your healthcare provider for any nutrition concerns.
vegan keto How to start the pescatarian keto diet
Keto may offer pescatarians many benefits and take the right strategies to make it work for you. If you are a beginner, here’s how to go smoothly.
1. Remove high-carb food items from your kitchen
- The first thing you need to do is remove anything from your kitchen that prevents you from getting into ketosis, including non-vegetarian foods, such as meat and poultry.
- Tip: If you live with other people who are not on this plan, consider getting separate storage for certain foods. Until you can fully control your carb cravings (if they do occur), stay away from anything that might be holding you back from your new diet. 2. Determine your unique daily macronutrient intake The ketogenic diet follows a typical macronutrient ratio of 70-80% fat, 20-30% protein, and 5% or less carbohydrates. Your macros may change if you’re specifically looking to build muscle on a ketogenic keto.
- Uses
- We have our free keto calculator to get a clear idea of how many calories, fats, protein and carbs you need in a day to reach your goals.
3. Brainstorm keto meal planning
Meal planning helps you save time and makes it easier for you to stick to your diet. Here are some ways to effectively plan your meals:
Start small. There is no need to plan meals for an entire month. Start by imagining the foods you can eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the first week. Always include fast-cooking meals on unexpectedly busy days.
You will never know.
In that case, explore five-ingredient recipes that can be ready in 15 minutes. This flourless pancake recipe, for example, is one to try.
Prepare (wash, peel, cut) your vegetables and fruits in advance as soon as you get home from the groceries. This will cut down on meal prep time. Just be sure to keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Diversify your menu for a more enjoyable experience. Moreover, the variation allows you to improve your intake of nutrients.
4. Create a grocery list based on your meal ideas
After brainstorming some ketogenic keto meals, you now have a good idea of what to include on your grocery list.
Helps categorize your list based on grocery aisles – eg,
Fresh and frozen produce, seafood, store and canned goods.
One benefit of having a clear shopping list is that it reduces the likelihood of purchasing unnecessary items (or items that are inappropriate for a keto diet).
5. Stick to the Pescatarian Keto for more than a few weeks
- Sticking to a whole new way of eating is easier said than done. While there is no one perfect diet – because we have unique genes, preferences, circumstances and more – give your current diet enough time to see if it works for you.
- The first few days of the ketogenic diet are probably the most challenging due to the keto flu, which occurs within 24-72 hours of cutting carbs. Some tips that will help set realistic expectations, plan ahead (this includes unexpected situations and social gatherings), and track your progress.
- Sample 7-Day Pescatarian Keto Meal Plan This sample 1-week meal plan provides meal ideas, including our very own keto recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Monday
Tuesday
breakfast:
cheese omelette
lunch:
Shrimp Stacks
Dinner:
Zucchini noodles with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese
Wednesday
Thursday
Should You Try the Pescatarian Keto Diet?
The keto diet may be a useful way to control blood sugar, lose weight (and build muscle), and get more omega-3s—among other benefits that a standard keto diet provides. Vegetarians such as vegetables, fruits, eggs and dairy – It may be helpful to try low-carb vegan biscuits. It can feel overwhelming at first if you haven’t followed a keto or pescatarian diet before because these diets cut food groups, especially high-carb foods, poultry and meat. Simple strategies like having a set menu, planning and preparing meals, and being patient in the process may help make this lifestyle sustainable for you.Add more delicious dishes to your inboxSubscribe for new simple, easy, and insanely delicious keto recipes every week. Hey, you! We will send you delicious recipes once a week 🙂18 References
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