Let's Talk Keto

When two special diets overlap

Welcome back, everyone! I hope you had a terrific summer, and a lovely Labor Day weekend. I spent most of August on the road. While I had a fantastic time, I’m grateful to be back in New York — and behind my usual desk — just as the sweltering summer weather is cooling down.

It’s also a delight to see that a number of new subscribers joined the newsletter in August — and that several are paid subscribers. While the Gluten-Free Guidebook is a labor of love, it costs time and money to put together, so your support means the world to me. Thank you❤️

While traveling last month, I was preoccupied with finding new restaurants, which led me down a curious rabbit hole. I’ve never tried the keto diet (truth be told, I’ve never followed any special diet except the gluten-free one) but keto kept popping up when I searched for gluten-free dining options. Since there’s some overlap between keto and gluten-free diets, it seemed like a good time to explore what they have in common — and what they don’t.

What Is the Keto Diet?

Keto is primarily a weight-loss/weight-management program that emphasizes whole, minimally processed foods. It’s got specific macronutrient ratios that are quite strict. While different sources take slightly different approaches, the difference in the ranges is small: 70%-80% of a keto diet is comprised of fat, 15%-25% is protein, and the remaining 5% is carbs. The theory behind the diet is that this macronutrient ratio shifts your body into ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbs.

What’s the Overlap Between Keto and Gluten-Free Diets?