The Vegan Keto Diet: How To Do It & What To Eat

So, you're adamant about avoiding animal products, but you're still keto-curious? While a vegan diet and a keto diet may initially seem incompatible (after all, one conjures images of tofu and the other bacon), an increasing number of experts say they're not mutually exclusive and that a vegan keto diet has the potential to be quite healthy—if you do it right. 

The "regular" keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb, moderate-protein diet that typically relies on animal products (think eggs, grass-fed dairy, plain full-fat yogurt) since these foods offer an easy way to hit your daily fat quota and contains few carbs. 

"A vegan keto diet follows the same principles [as keto] but without any animal-derived products, like meat and dairy," says cardiologist and plant-based diet proponent Joel Kahn, M.D.

Minimizing carbs and maximizing fats shifts the body from burning predominantly sugar/carbohydrates as fuel to burning fat in the form of ketones, which are molecules produced by the liver from fatty acids. When this occurs, a person enters nutritional ketosis, a metabolic state that contributes to keto's benefits of increased satiety, weight loss, improved brain health, and more. 

Some experts have expressed concern that—depending on how it's formulated—a traditional keto diet may be too high in animal-based saturated fats and low in heart- and gut-friendly fiber. 

While there have been health benefits associated with vegan diets, keto diets, and various characteristics of each diet (like eating lots of veggies or consuming fewer carbs), studies on the vegan keto diet are severely lacking, but some experts still find it promising.

"No studies demonstrate long-term outcomes of a vegan keto or low-carb plant-based diet, but people may find that their measurable health risk markers improve," says Carrie Diulus, M.D., an orthopedic spine surgeon who personally follows a vegan keto diet to help manage her type 1 diabetes and maintain a 100-pound weight loss. 

Diulus sometimes recommends vegan keto (and other dietary approaches) to her patients to prep for and recover from surgery as well. "I often have patients with weight problems and diabetes, and a ketogenic diet is often beneficial," she says. It also "has the potential to help improve their cholesterol."

"For people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes, there is mounting data that a ketogenic diet can help improve blood sugar control," says Diulus. In fact, studies have shown1 that, among type 2 diabetes patients, following a low-carb keto diet led to improved glycemic control and a reduction (or discontinuation) of diabetes medication. Because vegan keto diets are equally low in carbohydrates and also tend to be high in fiber (which is also key for blood sugar balance), it may have a similar impact. 

Keto diets are known to have an appetite-suppressing effect2, which many experts chalk up to the satiating nature of fats, improved blood sugar balance, and ketone production. And when you're not hungry, it can lead to significant weight loss. 

In fact, in a six-month study comparing the low-carb, vegan "Eco-Atkins" diet (which was not technically keto as it was quite low in carbs) to a higher-carb lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, the Eco-Atkins dieters experienced more weight loss.

Additionally, there are a number of anecdotal reports of the vegan keto diet significantly suppressing appetite. Last year, plant-based cardiologist Danielle Belardo, M.D., who was initially very anti-keto, embarked on a two-week vegan keto experiment, which she detailed in this Twitter thread. Her take? Not only did she end up getting into ketosis while eating loads of veggies and plenty of fiber, but "the appetite suppression was SO intense!" she said. "Between the ketones, MUFA/PUFA, and fiber, I lost 2 lb. despite trying SO HARD to not lose any weight."

In addition to more weight loss, participants on the Eco-Atkins diet from the aforementioned study also experienced better cholesterol measurements than their higher-carb, vegetarian diet counterparts. This is important, as many patients and medical experts worry about increases in cholesterol when consuming high amounts of animal-based fats.

"In people wishing to reduce their LDL, a plant-based keto diet can be very high in fiber, low in saturated fat, and has polyunsaturated fats in whole food forms like those found in nuts and seeds," says Diulus. "All of these things have been shown to help lower blood lipids."

While no actual studies link vegan keto diets to reduced pain, it's one of the big reasons Diulus sometimes recommends them in her practice. It happens because certain ketones produced by the liver during ketogenic diets are strong anti-inflammatories. Beta hydroxybutyrate, for example, inhibits COX2, inhibits the NLRP-3 inflammasome, and activates AMPK, which are all helpful for reducing pain, she says.

While Diulus personally benefits from a vegan keto diet, as do some of her patients, she stresses that there's a spectrum when it comes to diets, and it may not be for you. "Some people do amazingly well on a low-fat, plant-based diet, and some people do great on a carnivore diet. It's about figuring out what works best with your body and how you feel the best," she says.

Registered dietitian Abby Cannon, R.D., also cautions people not to jump on the vegan keto train without thinking long and hard about why they want to do it and weighing the potential risks—because there are a few significant concerns.

"It's very difficult to adhere to while also ensuring that you're getting enough nutrients and not developing disordered eating habits," says Cannon. "If you don't consume soy products, it's hard to ensure that you receive enough protein, given that you have to cut out whole grains and beans—staple protein sources in a vegan diet!" Like all vegan diets, vegan keto will also be deficient in vitamin B12 and potentially low in iron and other nutrients, so Cannon recommends a comprehensive multivitamin if you do try it. 

Vegan keto may also be pretty hard to sustain unless you're particularly motivated. "It's unlikely that anyone can stick to it long term, and any rapid weight loss experienced is likely to come right back on once you return to your normal eating habits," says Cannon, noting that many of the healthiest, longest-living people in the world eat legumes, whole grains, fruits, and starchy vegetables—all of which are a no-go on a vegan keto diet. 

If there's a medical reason for needing a ketogenic diet, the vegan keto diet might be an option, says Cannon, but it's extremely important that when trying any restrictive diet that you do so with the support of professionals to ensure that you're meeting your nutritional needs and doing it for the right reasons. That said, if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a history of disordered eating, you should definitely pass on this diet, she says. 

Additionally, your vegan keto diet may also result in side effects that are somewhat typical of all keto diets, especially ones that aren't balanced, including a temporary but drastic upswing in cravings, moodiness, and fatigue (often called "keto flu"); too much weight loss; hair loss (especially if you're not getting enough protein); and imbalances in electrolytes, which get flushed out when you lose water weight. To offset electrolyte imbalances, Diulus recommends increasing your sodium intake a bit and supplementing with magnesium.

To help ensure you're getting a variety of nutrients on a vegan keto diet, "It is essential to eat a variety of nonstarchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and low-carb protein sources," says Diulus. The good news: While vegan keto is low in carbs, it doesn't have to be low in fiber. That's because, as long as you're going no higher than 20 to 30 grams of net carbs (which is total carbs minus fiber), you'll still get into ketosis. Just be sure to load up on high-fiber, low-net carb foods such as leafy greens and nonstarchy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and cauliflower. 

If you find a vegan keto diet too restrictive and you're willing to include some animal products, you can also experiment with a vegetarian keto diet. 

Breakfast: Keto green smoothie made with baby spinach, frozen raspberries, avocado, nut milk, pea protein, and a flavor booster like fresh mint or matcha

Lunch: Mixed greens salad topped with avocado, hemp seeds, lupini beans, various nonstarchy veggies, and olive oil and vinegar

Snack: Celery slices with nut butter

Breakfast: Tofu scramble with tomatoes and spinach

Lunch: Creamy broccoli soup made with full-fat coconut milk, vegetable stock, and herbs

Snack: Keto chocolate mousse made with avocado, cocoa powder, and a bit of stevia (or a tiny bit of real sweetener, like maple syrup)

Breakfast: Chia pudding made with a high-fat nut milk (like Elmhurst) or canned coconut milk, berries, and unsweetened coconut flakes 

Lunch: Lettuce-free salad made with chopped cucumber, tomatoes, olives, edamame, and olive oil and vinegar

Snack: Almonds and unsweetened coconut flakes

Breakfast: Raspberries, a handful of walnuts, and matcha tea blended with coconut oil

Lunch: *Cauliflower rice made with scallions, ginger, onions, peas, chopped carrots, sesame seeds, and tofu

Snack: Red bell pepper slices with guacamole or mashed avocado

Dinner: Cauliflower crust pizza topped with tomato sauce or vegan pesto, mushrooms, peppers, and onions

Breakfast: Plain plant-based yogurt topped with low-sugar grain-free granola and blueberries

Lunch: Thinly sliced purple cabbage (or bagged "coleslaw mix") tossed with sesame oil and unseasoned rice vinegar, topped with edamame and sunflower seeds

Snack: Cucumber slices, celery, or bell peppers dunked in nut-based vegan cream cheese (like Kite Hill)

While much more research (particularly long-term studies) is needed to establish the true benefits of a well-formulated vegan keto diet, some experts believe it can be done well and that there are likely legitimate perks when it comes to weight loss, blood sugar control, heart health, and even pain reduction.