Parvati Magazine February 2018 Nutrition Keto Leanne Vogel

Healthful Pursuit, with Leanne Vogel

Leanne Vogel is the architect behind Healthful Pursuit, a popular website that educates people on the health benefits of the ketogenic or keto diet. Parvati Magazine’s Nutrition Editor, Karl MacPhee, caught up with her to talk about the health benefits of eating whole, nutrient dense foods with a focus on ketones, fat and finding the right approach for your body.

Pavarti Magazine: There’s so much I want to ask you, but I think it would be appropriate to start off with the ketogenic diet. What is your definition of the keto diet and how is it different than the paleo or low carb diets?

Leanne Vogel: Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet where we’re switching from a sugar-burning state to becoming fat-burning machines. I eat more of a paleo-friendly, Fat Fueled version of keto, where I’m focusing on quality, nutrient-dense, real foods, but being selective and strategic about carbs, with a focus on fat!

PMAG: After following your podcast and website for a long time, it is evident that you have a passion for educating your followers. What drives this passion and how do you think your experience helps people as they begin the diet?

LV: I think there’s a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to keto, especially for women. It took me a while to figure out how to do keto for my body, but I’m so glad I pursued something that works for me. I want women to feel empowered to do what feels right for them, without fear about doing keto “right.”

PMAG: As you can imagine, our readers have varied nutritional needs and preferences. How would your approach to the diet fit with people who are vegans, vegetarians and omnivores?

LV: You can totally do keto without meat! 80 percent of the recipes in my paperback, “The Keto Diet”, can be made vegetarian, and most of them can be modified to work for a vegan diet. I also have a video on that very topic, as well as a podcast episode on being a keto vegan.

PMAG: What advice do you have for people interested in trying the keto diet?

LV: Listen to your body! Your body will tell you what it needs, but you have to make the effort to listen; we’ve been conditioned to ignore our bodies, and it really does take practice to reconnect and trust the process.

PMAG: One of the most common things I hear from people is that they would miss all the carbohydrates if they were to adopt a keto diet. What has been your experience and what is a realistic way for people to transition?

LV: CARB UPS! You don’t have to miss carbs on a ketogenic diet – I still eat a decent amount of carbs because I love veggies. For my version of keto, fat is the primary fuel source, but carbs definitely have their place. It’s all about balance, and eating foods that make me feel good. I have a free meal plan available and it includes a carb up in the plan!

One tiny action. Five minutes. One minute. Ten seconds (take a vitamin or drink a glass of water, or do both). Wherever you are, whatever is happening, wherever your starting point… just start.

Leanne Vogel-Healthful Pursuits-Keto DietLeanne Vogelis a Nutrition Educator, host of “The Keto Diet Podcast” and four-time bestselling author. She found keto during her personal struggles with health and weight loss. It transformed her life, ending an eight-year struggle with amenorrhea, hypothyroidism, adrenal dysfunction and ultra-low hormones. For more: www.healthfulpursuit.com