Is the keto diet healthy? The ketogenic diet has been a hot topic lately, and it’s no wonder. Since first being introduced to the public in the 1920s, the keto diet has been a popular way for people to lose weight. But is this method of losing weight healthy?
The short answer, yes. The long answer is complicated. While many people find success with low-carb diets, there are some potential side effects. Here are some things you should know before going on a keto diet.
What is the keto diet?
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, medium protein, low-carb diet. It’s not really a diet in the sense that you have to eat certain foods and exercise or follow a meal plan. Rather, it’s more like an eating pattern.
Is this diet sustainable?
Short term: The keto diet is a short-term plan that can help you lose weight quickly. It will cause great amounts of ketones to build in the body, which burn fat.
Long term: It’s unclear how long a person will be able to stay on a keto diet without experiencing some side effects.
How does it work?
The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet. It’s designed to send the body into ketosis through fasting and restricting carbohydrates. The process of getting into ketosis happens in two ways: fasting and eating less than 50 grams of carbs per day. When you eat less than 50 grams of carbs daily, the body uses what it believes “excess” calories to create energy for its cells via ketone bodies rather than glucose.
If you tried this diet and thinking about why it didn’t work, you might want to check this post! Here’s why diets don’t work
Potential side effects of the keto diet.
- You might experience constipation.
- Your mental health might suffer, especially if you’re on the keto diet for a long period.
- You might experience nutrient deficiencies because you’re removing certain food groups from your diet, like fruit and vegetables.
- You could experience an increased risk of cholesterol issues and heart disease.
- The keto diet is not the best option for people who have epilepsy or type 1 diabetes.
- If you’re under 18, it’s recommended that you not go on a ketogenic diet because it can affect brain development in kids.
The keto diet is a healthy way to lose weight, but it’s important to consider all possible side effects before starting this new way of eating.
Is the keto diet healthy? The long and short of it.
The ketogenic diet is a diet in which the body burns fat for fuel, rather than carbohydrates. When people follow this diet, their body produces ketones because of the diet’s high-fat intake. Ketone bodies are produced by the liver from fatty acids and then converted into energy that can be used by cells throughout your body.
This process leaves you feeling fuller and more satisfied with food. But while many people find success on low carb diets, there are some potential side effects to be aware of. These side effects could include an increased risk of heart disease, kidney stones, and even a condition called ketoacidosis. Ketogenic diets have also been shown to reduce seizure activity levels in epilepsy patients who were not previously having seizures because of their condition. Additionally, those who follow the diet tend to have lower cholesterol levels than those who do not follow the same diet plan.
Considering Keto diet? our post might help you out! What Not To Eat on a Keto Diet: Eating Right on the Ketogenic Diet