I want to start a low carb diet. Mayo Diet, Keto? Any suggestions?

@user_chdb5e8ac, I like to use the Mayo Clinic Diet plan as the basis for keeping my weight stable. I have not used it for significant weight loss though. I especially like that it encourages healthy eating habits. As a transplant recipient, I aim for a balanced diet that contains all of the food groups, and this plan is helping me to stay on track with my personal goal. I find it work well for me. I have a copy of the Mayo Clinic Diet book that I use for my needs. I know that there is also an online version of the diet that is referenced it the following information.

The Mayo Clinic Diet: A weight-loss program for life
- Here you will find weight loss basics, Mayo Clinic diet and other diet plans, exercise along woth diet pills, supplements and surgery.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/basics/weightloss-basics/hlv-20049483

-Here is a link to the Mayo Clinic diet to see what the experts say, and how the Mayo diet works.
https://diet.mayoclinic.org/diet/home/

Erin, I hope that this information will be helpful to you in making your choice for diet. The one thing that I routinely read about any diet plan is that it should be something that you can live with. Are you wanting to lose weight? Or are you looking to be healthier?

@user_chdb5e8ac Is your goal overall health or to lose weight?

@user_ch53e9c09 I am not a fan of any particular diet, per se. My focus is to eat whole, natural foods as much as possible. In particular I avoid preservatives, artificial sweeteners and most "fads". Based on my various diagnoses I limit: fats, carbs, dairy, oxalates, potassium, phosphates and fiber. What this means in reality is:
Drinks: No soda, rare alcoholic drinks (1/2 glass wine with holiday meals), a great deal of water. I drink a mixture of 18 oz. hot water with 2 oz. coffee. This is my daily indulgence.
Vegetables: All well cooked except cucumbers and some tomatoes. My favorite is roasted (spray pan with cooking oil, place cut vegetables on pan, spray vegetables with cooking oil, sprinkle with salt and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes), but I also steam and boil them. Nothing green and leafy. No root vegetables except carrots and an occasional turnip.
Fruits: Fresh fruit as much as possible. Frozen or canned without syrup occasionally. No juices (I find them to add a great deal of sugar without providing fullness). No berries except strawberries. I eat a banana every day, an or apple orange occasionally, peaches (fresh in season, frozen when not), strawberries fresh or frozen.
Meats: Chicken breasts or thighs, fish, and beef roasted, grilled or braised using herbs.
Carbohydrates: Boiled white rice, pasta, rice cakes, and occasionally white bread (as close to natural as possible, read ingredients).
Desserts: These are my indulgences, picked with consideration as "best" choices for me. Angel food cake, ginger cookies (baked as pan bars), spice cake, and vanilla ice cream.
I sometimes use Jiffy peanut butter for a protein boost.
I think of my diet as what I normally eat, not a list of foods that I eat or limit for a certain time and then "go back to normal".
I have heard good things about the Mayo Diet, so you might want to try that. I am not a fan at all of the keto diet I have had too many episodes of ketoacidosis as a diabetic to want anything to do with that "diet". I have heard that it may work if you use it intermittently with a good meal plan.
I hope you find what you need and do well. Blessings.

Thank you for replying. My local nurse is going to help me again cutting carbs. It's hard to do!

I'm asking because I volunteer, and the bus driver who drives a paratransit bus said he takes many for kidney dialysis due to renal failure due to metformin and diabetes. He recommended fasting and keto over ever taking metformin

I thought I'd share this story and ask for opinions.

I need to lose weight, and looking to be healthier.

@user_ch53e9c09 I'm interested in the Keto diet I'm on the borderline of diabetes so what you can share I,ll appreciate

I'm on the border too. I need to change my diet, I'm working on that. Keto says to fast, my nurse says no fasting.

I like Aldi produce believe it or not, I just purchased a cart load of kale, avacados, brussel sprouts, mini cucumbers. I purchased salmon fillets frozen elsewhere. Grass fed meats I found at Walmart.

Keto allows alot of fat, I dont like that.

Schwanns has Mediterranean veggies, asparagus , that's good product. But they also have foods with too many carbs.

That diabetes, metformin, kidney failure story scared me into action!

I've cut out cereal, pasta, beer, banana, sugary fruit.

@user_ch53e9c09 Thanks for this information Guess I'm going to go on this diet as that scared me about the kidneys I already have a cyst on top of one Thanks again Linda @lioness

@user_ch53e9c09 Have you ever had cucumber water Just slice some in water then you can eat one also but gives water a refreshing taste

I love strawberries, but they have sugar I believe.

I just found this on Pubmed regarding metformin. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pubmed/29435189-effect-of-metformin-on-kidney-function-in-patients-with-type-2-diabetes-mellitus-and-moderate-chronic-kidney-disease/

I love Aldi mini CUCUMBERS! The package says they are from Canada. I have a cucumber cocktail I make, and yes, just so refreshing in ice water 🙂