For years, Silicon Valley has tried to engineer methods forliving better, longer and easier, with mixed results.Some have even opted out of real food altogether, instead relying on products likeSoylenta bland but nutrient rich liquid.But for those looking to not just simplify their eating, but also lose weight and curb their appetite, the ketogenic diet("keto" for those in the know) has become something of a cult-favorite eating plan, even attracting the likes of theKardashian sisters andLeBron James.People credit the fat-fueled diet craze with helping them lose weight and stay full, because it turns on the same metabolism mode (called "ketosis") triggered by starvation. It moves the body into a fat-store-burning state, instead of relying on carbohydrates for energy.But as I recently discovered, the keto diet is not easy to follow.It's true that by sticking to a low-carb, high-fat routine you're allowed to eat some traditional diet no-no's like bacon, eggs, butter, and plenty of creamy salad dressing. However, keto dieters are limited in what else they can eat:Not too many carrots, watch the berry intake, and forget about quinoa.Ketolent (though not the same brand as Soylent) theoretically takes all the work out of the keto diet, with a ready-to-mix shake. When I found out about the product, I thought it was worth a try.I had no idea what kind of wild ride I was about to endure.SEE ALSO:An exercise scientist says Silicon Valley's favorite diet is a scary 'experiment that the population is doing on itself'The recipe for Ketolent was developed by 35-year-old Ted Tieken, who's been on the keto eating plan since 2014. Tieken says the high-fat diet has turned around his chronic pain, left him more energized, and helped him lose 35 pounds."When I first started making the shakes, I loved that I didn't have to worry about what to eat for lunch and I could focus on everything else going on in my life," Tieken told Business Insider in an email.He started selling Ketolent in December 2014, and now says he averages one shake a day, (sometimes two) and recommends other keto fans with a busy schedule do the same."I usually either have one for breakfast and skip lunch, or skip breakfast and have one for lunch," he said. "Too many calories is a real problem in the modern food system, and we've engineered our product to give our customers as much satiety as we can so we can give them control over their calories."His company, Sated,says the insta-blend isn't just designed for time-pressed techies; it's a for anyone who wants to avoid the difficult work of figuring out what to eat on the keto meal plan.It costs $90 for a 30-serving supply, which means that a single keto shake comes out to $3 per meal.The shake consists of Sated-branded powder mixed with water, plus a fatty oil blend. It includes olive, flax, and coconut oils and packs a whopping 280 calories per scoop, providing the heft of my 400 calorie breakfast shake.People on the keto diet usually get at least 60% of their calories from fatnearly double the recommended daily dose.When prepared as a 12 ounce shake, Ketolent packs 35 grams of fat into my breakfast, providing nearly half of my recommended total fat for the day (45%), and 60% of my daily saturated fat.It's not even 10 a.m. They weren't kidding about this eat more fat business.The keto diet is focused on healthy fats. But when I'm not slurping shakes, it can be a confusing eating plan, because some healthy foods like carrots and beans are banned.I freaked out on day one of my new experiment when I realized that I'd inadvertently added half and half into my coffee.A couple teaspoons added to mellow out my morning cup amounts to more than one additional gram of carbohydrates a day, which is a lot when trying to stay under the rigid 20-grams-of-carbs-a-day version of the keto plan.And I have to completely ban carbohydrate-rich foods that are staples of a cheap, healthy dietlikebeans, quinoa and whole grains.It all makes me glad I don't have to worry about what keto-approved food to eat for breakfast, before my brain (and caffeine) kicks in. Instead, I just mix up a Ketolent shake.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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