Many of my patients ask me if they should try a “Keto diet.” They have heard about it, maybe even seen some famous person on social media posting pictures of delicious-looking food, and they want to know more.
It’s a common question because the ketogenic diet has been gaining a lot of popularity. Celebrities like Amy Schumer and Emily Post have touted the diet’s benefits, which include dramatically reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Celebrities like Mandy Moore have even gone so far as to say that she wouldn’t be where she is in her acting career if it weren’t for the ketogenic diet.
If you’re curious about trying the Ketogenic Diet or have already decided to give it a try, there are a few things you should know. First, what exactly is the Ketogenic Diet?
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that provides your body with fuel rather than food. Your body converts the food into energy and stores the unused calories as fat. Thanks to this unique metabolism, the ketogenic diet can help people with obesity issues or those who want to lose weight.
You may be familiar with the keto diet, which stands for “ketogenic” or “high-fat” diet. Essentially, the keto diet encourages your body to use fat as its primary fuel source. This can be a healthy option for people who want to lose weight or are obese.
The Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss
One of the most impressive things about the ketogenic diet is the fact that it has been shown to be one of the most effective diets for weight loss. When people follow it closely, they typically lose between 10 and 20 pounds in the first month alone. According to research, participants on a ketogenic diet lost 11.8% of their body weight after one month. This is significantly more than those on a normal diet where they might lose 0.9%. While these percentages seem high, it’s important to note that people who follow this diet aren’t just losing weight willy-nilly – most of them are also improving their health. That’s why so many famous people are adopting it.
The ketogenic diet has been shown to have numerous health benefits. It can help people with epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease. In fact, a growing number of people are using the diet as a way of life. Maybe you’ve heard of the keto lifestyle?
The ketogenic diet reduces your chances of getting many diseases. Research shows that people who follow the diet have significantly fewer cases of diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who do not. There’s also some evidence to suggest that the diet may help people with epilepsy. The ketogenic diet for heart disease and diabetes prevention is discussed in more detail below.
How Does the Ketogenic Diet Work?
Here’s where it gets interesting. The ketogenic diet is not necessarily about depriving yourself of food. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The diet encourages you to eat food as much as possible while cutting out “unhealthy” carbohydrates and replacing them with unsaturated fats. This can help your body in a variety of ways. For example, the diet may increase your body’s ability to utilize fat for fuel. This can result in weight loss because your body will start burning the fat for energy rather than storing it as fat.
The diet has also been known to boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. It does this by increasing the amount of “good” cholesterol in your body and reducing the bad cholesterol. Some studies have even suggested that the diet may help with depression and anxiety.
While the ketogenic diet can be an effective way to shed pounds, it’s also important to note that it’s not for everyone. There are a number of risks associated with the diet and, perhaps, for some people, it might do more harm than good. That’s why you should consult your doctor before you start following this diet.
What Are the Risks?
It’s important to understand the risks associated with the ketogenic diet. Some people may experience a number of side effects when following the diet. The problem is, these risks aren’t necessarily dangerous. They’re just something you have to consider before you start eating like a “pro”.
The most commonly reported risks include constipation, diarrhea, and nausea. These are typically mild and go away as you become more used to the diet. Other risks include dehydration, lack of energy, and muscle loss. Most of these risks can be avoided by strictly following the diet and avoiding over-exertion.
There are, however, some risks that are more serious and require medical attention. One of the most dangerous side effects of the diet is low blood sugar. This can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. People with diabetes who follow the diet usually have to monitor their blood sugar closely or risk going into a diabetic coma. The good news is this is usually only a concern for people with diabetes. The majority of the risks associated with the ketogenic diet are relatively mild and go away once you get used to the new way of eating.
The other issue that needs to be addressed is kidney damage. It is extremely important to drink enough water during the day, especially if you follow the ketogenic diet. This is because water helps your body in a number of ways, including enabling you to process food more effectively and efficiently. There is also some evidence to suggest that drinking plenty of water can reduce the risk of kidney damage caused by the diet. This being said, drinking too much water can also cause problems. So, it’s important to find the right balance.
While there are risks associated with the ketogenic diet, there are also a number of benefits. It is, therefore, important to weigh these risks against the potential benefits before you make a decision. It may very well be the case that, for some people, the risks are outweighing the benefits. In order to enjoy the benefits of the ketogenic diet, it may be necessary to reduce some of the risks. Luckily, this can be done without having to give up the diet completely.
When Do I Start Seeing Results?
There’s no exact answer to this because it depends on a variety of factors, including how motivated you are to lose weight and how much effort you’re willing to put in. Let’s say you decide to try the ketogenic diet. How long before you start noticing results?
It’s a fair question, and the truth is, you won’t see instantaneous results. It takes a while to get used to eating this way and being on a diet. Once you do, you’ll start losing weight without even realizing it. This being said, it’s also important to keep in mind that you won’t see perfect results the first day you start the diet. It’ll be a gradual process of getting used to eating this way and losing weight.
The important thing is that you do notice results. If you’re following the diet for medical reasons (like lowering cholesterol or tackling diabetes), then you may start noticing improvements in your health as soon as you start eating this way. If you’re trying to lose weight for cosmetic reasons (like wanting to look more like Amy Schumer), then it may take a little bit longer. The good thing is you’ll get there eventually.
Why Do Some People Like the Diet So Much?
It’s quite the opposite for some people. They may have problems following the diet and experience a number of adverse effects as a result. Nevertheless, these people continue to follow it because they believe it to be a healthier alternative to other diet styles. They may even feel that it allows them to eat whatever they want while not having to worry about excess weight gaining back in the future. This is also why celebrity endorsements can be so effective when it comes to promoting a diet. People want to follow what celebrities say and do. In fact, just look at how many people followed the advice of celebrity nutritionist Marjorie Merriweather Douglas and drank rose water to “flush out” their digestive system during World War II.
Douglas is most famous for her advice to “rinse out” your system before eating a large meal. This was particularly important during World War II, when food was scarce. People were forced to cook whatever they could and ate lots of rich food. Alcohol was also extremely scarce during this time, which further encouraged people to drink rose water as a digestive aid. This may explain why it was so common to see people drinking rose water during this period. Unfortunately, Douglas did not live long enough to witness the success of her advice. She died in 1981, three years after proclaiming that dieting was “unhealthy” and that people should eat what they want while also staying active.