The keto diet is a growing trend right now. It’s a unique way of cleansing your digestive system while losing weight at the same time.
The “keto” or “ketogenic” diet is basically a low-carb, high fat, sugar-free diet. Individuals involved in this eating plan mainly consume foods that are high in fat and moderate in protein. They minimize their carb consumption and avoid sugary foods.
At first glance, it sounds tricky, because, as many of us know, carbohydrates are one of our main sources of energy. Research shows that although protein and fats also provide us with energy, our body prefers carbs, because it’s easier and faster to break down.
So, how does this diet work then? Well, the reasoning behind the keto diet is that as you deprive yourself of blood sugar and eat more fat, your body naturally produces ketones from the excess fat. Ketones are water-soluble molecules that provide you with an alternative source of energy in times of energy-balance crisis. As your body produces ketones, you go into ketosis – a state in which your body is fueled by fat – and this results in rapid weight loss.
Essentially, instead of resorting to carbohydrates for energy, your body learns to run on fat. For those who may argue that the brain needs carbs, researchers say that the brain can run on ketones just fine.
As you eat less sugar, your insulin levels go down. As your insulin levels go down, you burn fat at a much faster rate. Proponents of the keto diet claim that it gives you a steady supply of energy. They say it also helps you be more alert and focused, possibly because starch is linked to fatigue.
Therefore, the keto diet is definitely an interesting concept. I’m currently not doing it because I love food too much to be so strict about my choices. Also, I am a little skeptical about how my body will adjust to it and whether I will still get all the nutrients I need.
However, my friend has happily gone keto and she testifies that it’s “really good if you wanna reset your body.” She asserts that sugar is useless and that protein, for instance, is more crucial to our health. My friend also points out that instead of allowing your sugar intake to mess with your blood sugar levels, you should opt to eat keto foods, which help balance your energy.
Personally, I’m super passionate about nutrition and I believe that every macronutrient has its role and purpose. I have fallen in love with My Fitness Pal, an app that helps me track the nutrients I need on a daily basis, based on my weight and activity levels. According to My Fitness Pal, every day, I need four times more carbs than fat. So, it’s a little odd to me that you can have a diet that reverses that and still does more good than harm.
In any case, I feel like nowadays society just keeps learning and growing. People are discovering new ways to do things. I definitely encourage anyone interested in the keto diet to be open-minded and learn more about it. Give it a try, experience it for yourself, and see if keto works for you.