Photo: Sviðasulta.

Keto Diet Embraced by Icelanders

The ketogenic diet has been embraced by Icelanders in recent months. The diet aims to reduce carbohydrate consumption in order to get the body to burn fat and proteins rather than carbs. More and more restaurants have started to offer keto-options, and sales of keto related goods are up across the board, RÚV reports.

Import of cauliflower, which is popular among keto followers, has increased by 40% since the turn of the year, according to wholesale firm Bananar ehf. Sales of Ketostix, a strip which measures the amount of ketone in urine, increased by 300% in 2018. Sviðasulta, a form of jellied sheep’s head, sales have increased by 30%, according to the meat producer SS.

The Facebook group Keto Iceland has close to 10,000 members. “There were only a couple of us doing this at first, along with a few Snapchatters, as well as existing groups such as Atkins, but this completely blown up in terms of popularity,” said Viðar Freyr Guðmundsson, one of the group’s founders.

Guðrún Hjördís Baldursdóttir, owner of Skjaldbakan pizzeria in Grandi Mathöll, has witnessed a tremendous increased in pizzas with keto dough. “The reception has been so good that we can hardly keep up with the demand. We’ve just come from a keto shift producing more dough, as we want people to be able to order what they want. We’re basically setting new sales records each passing day,” Guðrún commented.

The IKEA cafeteria in Garðabær also offers keto options. Þórarinn Ævarsson, the former CEO of Ikea in Iceland, expects more and more restaurants to start offering keto options. “I believe the trend will be like with the vegan options, as I think that no restaurant today can live with bypassing vegan options. The same is true for the keto options, and I think that all who wish to attain real success have to offer this,” he commented.

Followers of the ketogenic diet try to limit carbohydrate consumption, instead focusing on foods with a higher fat amount. Oftentimes, the goal is to lose weight as well as attaining a healthier lifestyle. People typically increase meat consumption along with vegetable consumption.