Learn the science behind Ketosis and how the Keto diet works!
By Grace Harrah — Written on Mar 04, 2019
Diet fads and trends are constantly changing, bringing in new “best” ways to shed those pounds that you have always hoped to.
A trend that has been recently gaining a tremendous amount of popularity amongst fitness enthusiasts is the Keto diet. Even celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian are a fan of the diet along with other celebrities such as Halle Berry, Vanessa Hudgens, Megan Fox and Adriana Lima. They say great things about this high-fat diet which almost seems like it's too good to be true.
So what is the Keto diet?
The “Keto” diet, shortened for Ketogenic, is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts the body into a Ketosis state. Ketosis burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. Protein is also included in the diet as long as you don’t get crazy with it. Because our bodies usually use carbs as the first source for energy, the diet transforms the metabolic state to burn fat effectively and more sufficiently, therefore helping you lose fat and create an efficient diet plan.
When people think of high-fat foods, highly processed, oily foods that are known to be bad for you often come to mind. The Keto diet does NOT mean you can eat fast food for all three meals of the day, but instead, you should incorporate HEALTHY fatty foods into your diet.
Foods such as avocados, eggs, nuts, cheese, olives, and high-fat meats are ideal foods that you can incorporate into your diet without feeling the guilt of eating too much fat. Because fats contain the most caloric dense foods than any other food categories, although the Keto diet wants you to eat a lot of them, it is not hard to get your intake of high-fat foods in small portions.
The best thing about this diet? You get to eat some of the foods that you thought were bad for you before (such as butter, high-fat dairy products, and chocolates (preferably, dark chocolate!) AND, you get to eat them while still being able to say you're "on a diet". Plus, you should still have success in losing weight. It’s simply the process of training your body metabolism to use fat for energy.
How long does it take to get into ketosis?
Do you have to wait a month before Ketosis actually starts to work? The answer is NO. It can begin working as quickly as two days. Ok, NOW this diet truly seems like a miracle that everyone should be on.
However, there are some side effects that come along with this diet just like any other diet that exists. Rapid weight loss can occur since you are restricting the body of your carb intake, although professionals relate the weight loss to only water weight so don’t get too excited in the first couple days. You can also start to feel fatigued from the change that your body is going through in order to fully adjusted to the new source of energy.
Who is the keto diet good for?
This diet could be tremendously useful for those that have problems with fatty liver or any other fatty organs. The diet essentially reverses the function of that organ to start USING fatty liver as a source for energy. Although this concept is not 100 percent confirmed, it is said that the fatty liver may be reversible by reducing the carb intake through the Keto diet. So, if you are struggling to get rid of a fatty liver or a disease that is associated with a fatty organ, this diet could help you by tricking your body into using the fat for energy!
It is also encouraged for those with type 2 diabetes because the diet improves blood glucose (blood sugar), levels along with reducing insulin levels. Because many of those with type 2 diabetes are overweight, it is also a great way to lose weight as a type 2 diabetic.
Who shouldn't try the keto diet?
Although this Keto diet works miracles for many people, it may not be suitable for those with kidney diseases and those who are pregnant.
Seem crazy? Why not give it a try!
This guide gives you everything you need to know about the Ketogenic diet; including the science behind it, foods to eat and avoid, and how it works for your body. The Keto diet may be the new diet fad that actually WILL help you lose those 5 lbs that you have been dying to shed!
Grace is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.