Halle Berry Chooses Keto to Manage Diabetes and Weight
You may know her as Storm in X-Men or as one of the infamous Bond girls in Die Another Day, or more recently as an MMA fighter, Jackie Justice in Netflix’s Bruised. One thing these characters all have in common? They are absolutely shredded, and Halle Berry’s unprecedented physical shape has filled the shoes of every role. When it comes to this A-list star embarking on a regimen to get her body fit enough to face the toughest of Hollywood critics, one may ask—what does she eat to get such a physique? You guessed it—Halle Berry’s diet of choice (for 30 years and counting!) is keto.
Why is Halle Keto?
It all started for the simple reason that Berry was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 22. While she didn’t formally label it as a ketogenic diet back in the 1990’s (since keto wasn’t a household name), Halle said goodbye to carbohydrates and sugars because she wanted off insulin.
She credits being able to manage her diabetes to the low-carbohydrate lifestyle, and she goes further to claim that it enables her to get in the demanding physical shape of a Hollywood superhero.
In the last decade or so, as keto became more defined in its process, Halle consciously started adding extra fats into her plan. This led to increased fuel to burn which, in turn, helped to transform her body into one of an MMA fighter, despite the fact she is over 50.
Halle’s Keto Plan
There are several routes to take for keto, and different tactics work for different body types. It’s commonplace for copious amounts of ribeye and bacon to come to mind when thinking of the ketogenic nutrition plan, but Halle does it much differently.
You could almost label her strategy as slightly “ketotarian” as her keto rendition is influenced by the vegetarian lifestyle. While she does eat some meat and fish, much of her daily intake of food consists of plant-based options, as well as vegetarian fat sources such as avocado, coconut oil, and nuts. In addition, if it fits in with her daily macros, she’ll have chickpeas and sweet potatoes sparingly for added variation and nutrients. Fresh produce is an integral part of a nutritious keto plan and there are plenty of low-carbohydrate options to choose from.
All in all, Berry uses the keto diet to feel energized and maintain her shape, all while admittedly feeling satiated. And the best part? Halle proclaims the low-sugar plan has led to the absence of cravings for sweets, so the ketogenic lifestyle is effortlessly second nature to her.
So, what does Halle eat, exactly?
Breakfast Or Lack Thereof
Halle doesn’t typically have a formal breakfast. She may sip on a keto coffee up until lunch time even with a morning workout–this tactic is a loosely related to the 16/8 method of intermittent fasting.
The strategy employs an eight-hour feeding window and 16-hour overnight fast and is commonly paired with the ketogenic nutrition plan. Studies have shown that intermittent fasting improves metabolic profiles and reduces the risk of obesity, obesity-related conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. [1]
Halle only prepares breakfast on occasion but when she does, she goes for an egg scramble with peppers and onions, and a side of avocado.
Soup and Salad
Sound familiar? Yes, good old soup and salad for lunch—keto is that simple. Berry enjoys a large salad topped with protein and healthy fats. Common salad additions may include chicken, beef, shrimp, fish, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, avocado, and a vinaigrette made with olive oil.
In cooler weather, Berry takes the same low-carb approach and has a broth-based soup loaded with veggies and protein.
More Plant-Based Produce
Dinner time consists of more vegetarian options such as mashed cauliflower and grilled vegetable medley. Berry will sometimes opt for a vegan protein like chickpeas, or a limited amount of sweet potato. While those two options aren’t keto, she eats them in true moderation which allows her to remain within her keto macros.
Halle’s other go-to dinner mimics her lunchtime routine of protein with vegetables by way of a large salad, or soup.
Snacks
Berry’s keto lifestyle has been crucial in keeping her blood sugar levels even so that means no more spikes and drops in blood sugar which results in no more sugar cravings!
You won’t find her snacking on sweets, but she is a fan of the savory, baking her own kale chips that are dressed in olive oil and salt. She also enjoys the crunch and convenience of seeds, or (you guessed it) even more veggies.
Wine
Halle likes to treat herself to a glass of red wine in the evenings. Dry red wines such as Cabernet, Merlot, and Pinot Noir have just one gram of carbohydrates and one gram of sugar per five-ounce glass, so yes, some wines can fit into the keto nutrition plan.
If you prefer white wine, despite popular misconception, varietals such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Brut Sparkling have just two to three grams of carbohydrates and one to two grams of sugar per five-ounce glass. Cheers to that!
Closing Thoughts
If you’re not too familiar with keto, you may assume that it’s a complicated diet. While keto can consist of harder-to-find (and sometimes expensive!) foods, it can also be tailored to employ an easy list of inexpensive whole foods that are found in mainstream grocery stores. Halle chooses the latter approach and as you can see, it works for her!
References
Patterson, R. E., Laughlin, G. A., LaCroix, A. Z., Hartman, S. J., Natarajan, L., Senger, C. M., Martínez, M. E., Villaseñor, A., Sears, D. D., Marinac, C. R., & Gallo, L. C. (2015). Intermittent Fasting and Human Metabolic Health. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 115(8), 1203–1212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2015.02.018
