Low-carb diets, as we know, keep coming and going, as also evolving along the way. To say that the keto diet has become one of the most popular low-carb diets of recent years is a complete understatement. From the Kardashians to Victoria Secret Models everyone’s been raving about it. But why has keto suddenly taken the centre stage as the diet that can transform your body?
HOW IT WORKS
To give it it’s full name, the Ketogenic diet is a way of eating that causes the body to make energy from things called ketones, rather than using the simple sugars from carbs in our diet. The diet calls for consuming high amounts of fat, a moderate amount of protein, and a very limited amount of carbs. It’s usually broken down to 75, 20, and 5 percent of your daily calories, respectively. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis forces your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates to feed your muscles and mind.
THE FOOD
The keto diet is all about increasing calories from fat and going very low carb. That means following a restrictive, keto-friendly food list. Here are some of the foods you may eat on keto:
- Avocado
- Heavy cream
- Butter
- Cheese
- Coconut (unsweetened)
- Nuts (almonds and macadamia) and seeds (chia seeds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds)
- Leafy green vegetables (romaine, spinach, kale, collards)
- Non-starchy vegetables
- Meats (chicken, beef, pork, lamb)
- Eggs
- Fish (particularly fatty fish like salmon and sardines
Foods and drinks that you’ll avoid on the keto diet include:
- Whole fruits (though some fruits are keto-friendly)
- Dried fruits
- Whole grains
- Cold cuts
- Milk
- Ice cream
- Alcohol
- Desserts
BENEFITS OF KETO DIET
It's helpful for highly obese people to help them lose weight, especially as it can motivate them to see results rapidly. It is capable of reversing prediabetes, improving cholesterol, and can assist if you have PCOS, decreasing your insulin sensitivity.
It also decreases inflammation, which leads to many conditions including cancer and arthritis, and some individuals claim that it also makes them psychologically strong and helps them stay focused.
Before you nod yes to the KETO diet and modify your eating habits dramatically, please do talk to your doctor about whether the keto diet is suitable for you. While the diet has its roots in medicine, its common usage remains young, and it isn't understood by many physicians. So better to get your facts and fiction sorted before you embark on your Keto journey!
