Keto Diet For Beginners

First off, WHAT is a ketogenic diet?

Ketogenic diet, better known on the Internet as the “Keto Diet”, is basically a low-carb and moderate-protein diet. Low-carb diets have been proven to not only increase metabolism but has been demonstrated to result in more weight loss compared to other diets. This diet produces ketones, which can be an alternative fuel source for the body when the supply of glucose is low. Scientifically, ketones are produced from fat in the liver and these are used as energy for the body, especially the largest consuming organ, the brain. However, since the brain cannot consume energy directly from fat, it feeds off glucose and ketones. So, during a ketogenic diet, your body runs mainly off of fat, causing your fat to be burned constantly. This low-carb diet increases the burning of fat, approximately 200-500 calories a day. Besides weight loss, there are many other benefits such as feeling less hungry whilst having a steady supply of energy.

Who SHOULD and SHOULD NOT participate in this diet:

There are many controversies surrounding the safety of being on a low-carb diet and burning fat as the main source of energy for the body. The main fear of ketogenic dieting is that consuming lower carbohydrates will increase the chance of heart disease. However, there are many other studies that have shown a lack of evidence for the correlation between having an increased chance of heart disease and going on a ketogenic diet. Therefore, there are requirements when considering going on a ketogenic diet for safety and health considerations.

Diabetes: Going on a keto diet is one of the best things you can do for your health. A low-carb diet can slowly yet surely reverse your type 2 diabetes and significantly increase your blood sugar if you have type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, once you are on a low carbohydrate diet, you will most likely need to lower your insulin doses.

High blood pressure: If you are on blood pressure medication and is considering going on a low-carb diet, then there is a risk of getting low blood pressure. If the results of the ketogenic diet starts to show within a few days, it is best to stop taking the blood pressure medication for safety reasons.

What are you supposed to EAT on a ketogenic diet?

Good: Seafood, low-carb vegetables (broccoli, mushrooms, avocados, spinach, bell peppers), cheese, eggs, meat, unsweetened coffee and tea, dark chocolate etc.

Bad: high-carb fruits (watermelon, strawberries, honeydew), cooked rice, noodles, soda, potatoes, bread, sweets.

In short, if you are considering going on a ketogenic diet, you must explore the different pros and cons of putting your body through a low-carb diet. Although this diet is extremely helpful in weight loss, it can also create health issues for some people. Therefore, taking precautions when considering going on any diet is extremely important.

For more information, please visit Dietdoctor.