Since the introduction of the ketogenic diet in the 1920s, scientists have been researching its potential to treat a variety of illnesses. One such illness is obesity. Could the ketogenic diet help individuals lose weight? The short answer is yes. Could you benefit from the diet too? We examine the science behind the phenomenal success of the ketogenic diet and how you can achieve amazing results using the diet for weight loss.
How Does The Ketogenic Diet Work?
The ketogenic diet places a significant emphasis on fat and protein consumption while restricting carbohydrate intake. The diet was developed to mimic the fat-burning properties of the body’s most preferred energy source, ketones, formed from the breakdown of fat. Since then, scientists have conducted numerous studies to examine the effects of the diet on both animals and humans.
The most well-known study was the 1924–1925 Prøvest study conducted by Norwegian epidemiologist Fridtjov Nagel at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Nagel fed a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet to patients with epilepsy who had not responded to previous therapy. The patients were placed on the diet for a total period of three years and experienced significant weight loss. More recently, the diet has been used to treat type 2 diabetes and brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. In addition to these medical applications, there is also evidence that the diet reduces the risk of heart disease and certain types of cancer. Many people follow the diet for weight loss, but the list of benefits is so much more than that!
Why Should You Try The Ketogenic Diet For Weight Loss?
Thanks to the phenomenal success of the ketogenic diet in the treatment of several diseases, scientists have been able to examine the diet’s effect on weight loss. Could the ketogenic diet help you shed those extra pounds? Let’s take a look.
The most obvious advantage of the ketogenic diet for weight loss is in its ability to significantly reduce body fat levels. In the Prøvest study, the average patient lost 13% of their body weight. Even more impressively, nine out of the twelve patients in the study reached their target weight. This kind of weight loss is relatively rare in obese individuals; typically, they tend to lose inches, not pounds. In addition, the ketogenic diet reduces the body’s appetite, so you are less likely to overeat. These two factors alone make the diet an excellent option for weight loss, especially if you want to get rid of that stored fat.
Another significant advantage of the ketogenic diet for weight loss is how well it handles diabetes. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are more likely to be obese, and obesity makes the condition worse. Research shows that the diet improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in patients with type 2 diabetes, potentially lowering their risk of developing the disease. In addition, the ketogenic diet has been shown to reduce the need for medications, particularly insulin, in patients with Type 2 diabetes. This means fewer side effects and less spending on medications!
The ketogenic diet also offers protection from liver disease. When rats are fed a high-fat, high-protein diet, their livers start functioning differently. The liver’s job, in the context of the body, is to regulate glucose and vitamin levels in the blood. In a state of ketosis, where body fat is primarily used for energy instead of carbohydrates, the liver produces fewer toxins. This could make the diet a natural choice for patients with liver disorders such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
What Should You Look Forward To On A Ketogenic Diet For Weight Loss?
On a ketogenic diet for weight loss, you will notice an increase in your physical activity levels. This is likely because you are more energized by fat than by carbohydrates. After starting a ketogenic diet, you should notice an improvement in your mental alertness and focus. Studies have shown that the diet increases the brain’s levels of serotonin and dopamine, two important neurotransmitters that regulate mood and alertness. This could explain why people on the diet experience a decrease in their appetite, sometimes dramatically so!
Another significant benefit of the diet is that you will start noticing improvements in your skin. After just a few months of following the diet, you will start seeing clearer skin and less bags under your eyes. The ketogenic diet improves collagen synthesis, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging. The list of benefits continues!
The bottom line is that the ketogenic diet is effective in reducing body weight and offering multiple health benefits. Could you lose weight on this very effective dietary regimen? We think so. Could you benefit from the diet for numerous diseases? We think so too!
We examined the scientific research on the ketogenic diet and determined that it is a top-notch choice for weight loss. Indeed, you can eat delicious food while losing weight on this diet, and you’ll achieve amazing results.