What Is The Keto Diet, Exactly?

Here's everything you need to know.

There's no denying that the keto diet still reigns as one of the most popular and highly researched diets out there nowadays. Keto was one of the top 10 diets listed as part of Google’s Search report in the year 2019. And per Reddit Review's in year 2019, keto was the most-discussed diet trend of 2019, plus the r/keto sub-Reddit was the number-two overall fitness/wellness community in 2019 and saw a 65 percent increase in subscribers from the year 2018.

But there are two clear sides to the keto debate: There are peoples who are into high-fat lifestyle and those who, well, absolutely isn't.

Jenna Jameson, for example, is a proponent—as is Mama June, Halle Berry, and Savannah Guthrie. Jenna, for example, credits the keto diet with her more than 80-pound postpartum weight loss, while Halle swears that it helps her maintain her health (she has type 2 diabetes).

Then some don't love the diet: Tamra Judge, who was on the keto diet for about a month, recently quit, saying it "doesn't do anything," and noting that it made her feel sick (#ketofluproblems). And Jillian Michaels told WH last year that people should, "avoid the keto diet—common sense. A balanced diet is key."

Amidst all the positive and negative reviews, though, you may still be a little hazy on the details about the keto diet—like what it is, how it works, and exactly in what proportion butter and cheese you get to eat. Don't worry, I got you there.