The Evolution and Persistence of Keto Dieting
Yes and no.
Keto dieting’s popularity rose and peaked in the late 20-teens, declined for a few years, and has more or less held steady since 2023. So says Google Trends anyway. During the keto heyday, it felt like every time I went to the grocery store there were a dozen new products proclaiming “KETO” on the label. Most of the reader questions sent my way had to do with troubleshooting their keto diets. For a while, it was the topic I covered most frequently on the blog—what to eat and avoid, how to supplement, how to make it work for specific populations.
Not so much anymore.
But don’t be fooled. Although keto is no longer front and center in most diet and weight loss conversations—that distinction goes to GLP-1s—people are still discovering keto diets and trying them for themselves. Plenty of folks, including friends of mine, have been keto for many years, some even predating the keto boom. New books are still being written. Bloggers are still putting out keto recipe guides.
Keto is here to stay. It just looks a little different, as I say in the video.
Remember, the liver starts producing ketones when insulin is low and liver glycogen becomes depleted. Many roads lead to this outcome. Any way of eating that restricts daily carb intake below about 50 grams per day will trigger ketosis. Intermittent fasting paired with a Primal-style diet could do it. Carnivore diets can do it. Even a moderately low-carb diet paired with long or intense training sessions can do it. I’d wager that a fair number of you reading this are in ketosis at least some of the time, whether or not you’re intentionally following a keto diet. I’m sure I am too, although I don’t measure my ketone levels.
I still believe that keto is one of the best tools any of us have in our metabolic toolboxes for losing weight, tackling insulin resistance, and building that all-important metabolic flexibility.
I don’t really care how someone chooses to label their way of eating as long as it works for them.
In some ways, it is good that keto flies more under the radar now. At the height of its popularity, keto attracted a lot of negative press. (Paleo got the same treatment when it became popular 20 years ago. People love to bash anything that flouts conventional wisdom and asks them to give up their morning donuts and 500 calorie latte treats.) Now folks are free to try it without hearing every day about how it keto is a dangerous fad diet (it’s not) that will make their heart or kidneys explode (it won’t).
If you’re interested in exploring keto and trying a Keto Reset, the Primal method of approaching a keto diet, start here:
Let me know, have you tried keto in the past? Are you still doing it? Why or why not?
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* This blog reflects my personal views and opinions and isn’t intended as medical advice, but I hope it will be informative and inspiring as you pursue a healthy, fulfilling life.