Is The Keto Diet right for you?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children.

The keto diet is everywhere these days. I know a few people that are on it so I wanted to get more information. 

What is the keto diet?

The ketogenic diet (keto for short) is a low-carb, high-fat diet that may benefit against diabetes, cancer, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s disease. It has similarities of the Atkins diet. It drastically reduces carbohydrate intake and replaces with high fat. Reduction of carbs put in your body puts the metabolic state into ketosis. When this happens your body burns fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy to the brain. The keto diet can cause massive reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels.

Is it safe to do the keto diet?

Some studies suggest that a ketogenic diet is safe for significantly overweight or obese people. Other clinical reviews point out that patients on low-carbohydrate diets regain some of their lost weight within a year.

Why is ketosis bad?

Ketosis is a normal metabolic process, something your body does to keep working. When it doesn’t have enough carbohydrates from food for your cells to burn for energy, it burns fat instead. Ketosis can become dangerous when ketones build up. High levels lead to dehydration and change the chemical balance of your blood.

Can ketosis be dangerous?

It is the leading cause of death of people with diabetes under the age of 24 years old. Many experts say ketosis itself is not necessarily harmful. Some studies suggest that a ketogenic diet is safe for significantly overweight or obese people. A Keto diet isn’t good for your overall long-term health.

According to the American College of Cardiology, a low-carb diet can come with a red flag. If you are taking in less than 45% daily calories in carbs you are more likely to develop atrial fibrillation (AFib), or an irregular heartbeat. People with AFib are FIVE TIMES more likely to have a stroke than those without. Researchers believe that low-carb dieters are eating less fruits, vegetables and grains (all sources of carbs), they are missing out on the anti-inflammatory benefits of these foods. Eating more protein and fat may lead to oxidative stress, which has also been linked to AFib. On a 1,500 calorie diet you need about 168-196 grams of carbs a day, which is 45-52 percent of daily calories.

Is ketosis bad for your liver?

A ketogenic diet can cause fatty liver. The diet can cause a massive amount of fat being released through the body and through the liver. Veggies are necessary! Do not use vegetables as a calculation into your 20-50 grams of carbs per day.

Is Keto bad?

The keto diet has serious risks. It’s high in saturated fat, which has been linked to heart disease. A nutrient deficiency and constipation could occur since the keto diet is very low in fibrous foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

What can I eat on the keto diet?

• Seafood – fish and shellfish
• Low-carb vegetables
• Cheese
• Avocados
• Meat and poultry
• Eggs
• Coconut oil
• Plain greek yogurt and cottage cheese

How long should I stay on the keto diet?

The first two to six weeks are virtually the ketogenic adaptation phase, where your body is going through the adaptation of switching to relying primarily on fat versus glucose or carbohydrates. To really see results, you should follow the diet for a minimum of three months.

Is The Keto Diet right for you?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used to primarily treat difficult -to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. 

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