When it comes to weight loss, there are plenty of quick fixes out there but, for the most part, they don’t last. However, there is a weight loss trend that may just be the answer to your weight loss questions: the ketogenic diet. People following this diet achieve amazing weight loss results and there’s a good reason why. Here’s an overview of how the ketogenic diet works and some of the fascinating research that’s gone into it.
What Is The Ketogenic Diet?
The ketogenic diet is a very low-carbohydrate diet that was developed in the early 1920s. It entails eating lots of fat and very few carbohydrates. A lot of the fats come from products such as butter and coconut oil while the protein comes from things such as meat, eggs, and fish. There are more than 80 research studies that support the effectiveness of the ketogenic diet for weight loss. It also helps improve overall health and performance while lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.
How Does The Ketogenic Diet Work?
When you eat foods containing carbohydrates, your body produces sugar. Our bodies need sugar to function properly, however, too much sugar in our blood leads to problems. When you enter ketosis – the state your body shifts to when you follow the diet – your body begins producing ketones instead of sugar. Ketones are an intermediate product of fat metabolism that your body uses to fuel various processes including your nervous system and skeletal muscles. Because you’re not producing much if any sugar, your body gets the energy it needs from ketones which helps maintain steady blood sugar levels. This makes it effective for diabetics who are looking to manage their blood sugar.
Ketogenic diets tend to reduce body fat due to several factors. First, the high amounts of fat you eat prevent you from storing extra calories as body fat. Second, the low carbohydrates limit the amount of sugar your body produces which subsequently reduces the amount of body fat you store. Finally, the absence of carbohydrates forces your body to switch its fuel source to ketones which provide more energy than carbohydrates do. As a result, you lose weight even while consuming the same amount of calories as you did before you started the diet.
Why Is The Ketogenic Diet Effective For Weight Loss?
There are several reasons why the ketogenic diet is effective for weight loss. First, since it reduces the amount of sugar your body produces, you’ll naturally begin to lose weight even if you don’t vary the macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate, and fat) in your diet. Second, the low-carbohydrate, high-fat nature of the diet makes it easier for your body to remove calories so you can lose weight. Third, because it forces you to consume more of the food types you find most satisfying, you’ll lose weight even if you don’t feel like you’re making any changes to your diet. Last but not least, since the ketogenic diet reduces inflammation, it may help protect you from diabetes and heart disease.
What Foods Are Strictly Forbidden On The Ketogenic Diet?
On the ketogenic diet, you’ll notice that there are certain foods that you’re allowed to eat and others that you’re not. For example, you may eat eggs, shrimp, and lamb but you’re not supposed to eat beans, lentils, or broccoli. Here’s a short list of foods that you are and are not allowed to eat on a ketogenic diet:
- bread
- pasta
- rice
- sugar
- sweets
- dairy
- legumes
- potatoes
- chickpeas
- garlic
- onions
- tomatoes
- eggplant
- bell peppers
- zucchini
- bananas
- coconut
- butter
- bacon
- ground beef
- hot dogs
- lamb
- chicken
- pork
- frozen fruit
- peaches
- apples
- strawberries
- kiwi
- oranges
- lemon
What Is The Difference Between The Ketogenic Diet And The Atkins Diet?
There are several differences between the ketogenic diet and the Atkins diet. First off, the Atkins diet is a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that was developed in the early 20th century. It was originally created to control blood sugar levels in diabetics and eventually became popularized in the 1950s among people trying to lose weight. One of the distinguishing features of the Atkins diet is that it emphasizes protein over carbohydrates and specifically prohibits fruit, vegetables, and grains. The ketogenic diet, on the other hand, emphasizes foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates. While both diets have similar goals – namely, to lower insulin levels and reduce body fat – the differences in the way calories are consumed determine how successful each diet will be in reaching that goal. In addition, the ketogenic diet allows for more food variety which may help with weight loss as well as improving overall well-being. Finally, the ketogenic diet has a much happier history. In the early days of the diet, people would joke about eating grass to achieve the perfect ratio of nutrients needed for optimum health. While this practice still exists (in a more sophisticated form), the creators of the diet didn’t intend for it to be a joke. In fact, they were serious about providing the human body with the best fuel possible in order to reduce the risk of disease. With that in mind, let’s examine how you can get started on a ketogenic diet so you can achieve your weight loss goals.
How Do I Begin A Ketogenic Diet?
If you’re interested in trying the ketogenic diet, the first thing you should do is consult with your doctor. The diet is relatively new and your doctor may not be familiar with it. They may also have some advice or suggestions for you to follow along with. Once you’ve received approval from your doctor, you can begin to consume food that’s high in fat and low in carbohydrates. To achieve this state of ketosis, you’ll need to carefully monitor your intake of these foods and make sure you’re in calorie balance each day. This can be a struggle for people who are following the diet without professional guidance. That’s why it’s important to consult with a nutritionist who can help you achieve and maintain nutritional ketosis. Doing this on your own without the proper guidance can be dangerous and may even cause you to lose a considerable amount of weight. This may leave you more vulnerable to disease and poor health.
What Should I Eat On A Ketogenic Diet?
A lot of the foods you’ll want to avoid on the ketogenic diet are those that are highly processed. This includes foods that are fried, baked, or made with added sugar. If you want to lose weight, you should aim to consume more foods that are high in fat and low in carbohydrates. This will help you enter and stay in ketosis which in turn will help you reduce your overall calorie intake and lose weight. The fats that you eat should come from plant sources such as olive oil, nuts, and seeds as they are more nutritious than meat fats. You should also try to stay away from foods with added sugar and anything with lots of “empty calories.” These are calories that provide little or no nutrition but contribute significantly to your waistline. When choosing your foods, make sure the amounts of fiber, protein, and vitamins are what you need and that each food is served in the proper portion size. Doing this ensures you’ll get the nutrients you need to stay healthy. When selecting food options, it’s also important to note that some foods are more suitable for night meals while others are better suited for morning ones. This is because your body processes nutrients better when they’re consumed at certain times of the day. For example, protein is more efficiently utilized when consumed with some fat and carbohydrates in the evening whereas it works better when consumed in the morning with no other food consumed beforehand. You should also be aware that you can use an online tool to create a nutritious meal plan that takes into account the foods you’ll need to avoid as well as those you want to include in your diet. This can help make following a ketogenic diet much easier.