Is it possible to be a KetoVegan?
Shift toward vegetarian
Finding the perfect diet is a frustrating endeavor. I can find data, including solid research from the medical and nutrition communities, to support just about any fad out there. Confirmation bias is also a real thing. You can probably find support for whatever your own point of view is if you look hard enough.
So as I started on a new health journey, it was easy to find reasons to move toward becoming Vegan. I read The China Study, watched Netflix documentaries like Forks over Knives and What the Health, and started listening to Podcasts supporting my new Vegetarian belief. I could not be convinced to go entirely Vegan at any point, but I drastically cut my meat and dairy consumption and I also changed what type of meat I found acceptable to eat.
Ketogenic diet information
At the same time, I kept hearing incredible things about the Ketogenic diet. I looked into it a bit and it seemed to be the opposite of going Vegan. I watched debates on Youtube between Keto proponents and Vegan proponents and found myself mostly agreeing with the Vegan side (possibly because of confirmation bias).
Then in the summer of 2018, I came across a speech by a professor at BYU that was simply incredible. His name is Ben Bikman and his talk is entitled “The Plagues of Prosperity”. I watched it and found myself agreeing with everything he said. But I was quite dismayed towards the end of the talk to learn he was promoting a High Fat, Low Carb diet - in other words - Ketogenic. How can I agree with all of the principles he is teaching and yet have such a wide disagreement about how to achieve those principles. This convinced me I needed to look at both sides of the Keto vs Vegan argument again.
Similarities between these two opposing viewpoints
What I have discovered is not all that shocking. First, there is no perfect diet for everyone. Age, activity level, overall health, culture, and personal preference must be taken into account. Second, there are extremists on both sides that I do not agree with at all and that I feel promote an unhealthy lifestyle. Third, it is very possible to eat extremely unhealthy within strict Vegan guidelines, and same with Keto. Fourth, the biggest proponents of both sides just might have something to sell, whether it is a book or a blog or multiple products. Fifth, and this is the main point of this blog post, you can find an incredible number of similarities, that if followed, will likely lead to pretty ideal health.
Following are some of the similarities between the Keto and Vegan camps.
The Standard American Diet is not healthy.
Controlling disease with diet and lifestyle is better than turning to medication, if possible.
Real whole foods are the key to a healthy diet.
Vegetables should be the main staple in your overall diet and in just about every meal, particularly leafy green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.
Sugary drinks and soda should be completely eliminated.
Avoid refined carbs and sugars. Refined carbs strip away the fiber and good nutrients and lead to insulin spikes. Sugar is an empty calorie.
Avoid processed foods as much as possible.
Eating too much meat and/or eating poor quality meat is unhealthy.
Processed vegetable oils are low in nutrients and are easily oxidized, which can be very problematic.
Diet is only one contributor to improving and maintaining your health. You also need to focus on sleep, exercise, and mindfulness.
As I continue to debate with myself about whether I should be mostly vegetarian or mostly Keto, it is nice to hear those who I consider the most highly educated in both camps agreeing on these basic principles. It gives me a good place to focus on as I continue to weigh the differences and what I want for my personal health and the health of my family.