The 18 Best Low-Carb Vegetables to Eat on the Keto Diet

Is It Safe to Reduce Vegetable Intake While on Keto?

As long as you’re choosing low-carb vegetables and staying within the 20 to 50 g carbohydrate limit recommended on the keto diet, you can still get important nutrients and fiber, Kaufman says.

Before you try the keto diet, you should know what you’re signing up for. It’s typically used in the short term for weight loss. “I would use caution if trying to use the keto diet as a sustainable approach,” says Kaufman.

When followed in the longer term, for conditions such as epilepsy and type 2 diabetes, keto diets are maintained under the supervision of medical professionals.

However, the diet’s long-term health implications remain unknown, due to a lack of research.

Because so many vegetables are high in carbs, people on keto tend to take in less fiber than usual, which can exacerbate common keto-related side effects, such as constipation. Eating a variety of low-carb vegetables can help ensure that you meet your fiber goals.

With its restrictive macronutrient requirements, keto is not an easy plan to follow. “If you eat out often, travel, or socialize with your friends at restaurants on a regular basis, it can be borderline impossible to stay on the keto diet,” Fear says.

In addition, the keto diet generally isn’t recommended for people with kidney or liver problems, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, or gout; anyone whose gallbladder has been removed; or individuals with a family history of cancer, Fear says. It’s also not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with a history of eating disorders.