Albeit a new concept for most people looking to make a change in their everyday diet nowadays, The Ketogenic diet, also known as keto diet has been around since the 1920’s. It is a low-carb, high fat diet designed to lessen or minimize carbohydrate intake, and send the body into what is known as ketosis, a metabolic state instigated by the body’s lack of carbs. This allows one’s body to become very efficient in the burning of fat for energy and the production of ketones, a chemical produced in the liver that can supply energy to the brain. These processes can enable a person to lose a significant amount of weight in a relatively short period of time.
Here we’ll analyze the pros and cons of the keto diet
Pros
Quick Weight Loss
For obvious reasons, weight loss is one of the main pros that can come with not only the keto diet, but any diet, Because of the low carb, high fat makeup, those who do have the primary focus on losing a great amount of weight can see tremendous results in a few weeks time. According to U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 diet rankings, the k
eto diet tied for third place in the Best Fast Weight Loss Diet. Although fast weight loss can have its disadvantages afterwards, it’s a better problem to deal with than obesity.
No More “Low-Fat”
What makes the keto diet appealing to most who choose to commit, is that it allows you to enjoy more of the fatty foods that you love, the red meats, fatty fish, peanuts, butter, and cheeses all while losing weight.
Health Benefits
The keto diet has been shown to reduce seizures in pediatric patients with epilepsy. It has also been put to use by endurance athletes and bodybuilders who use it to cut fat and overall weight in short timeframes.
Cons
Sustainability
Like any new diet, there is a learning curve along with a period early on in the diet in which the person might want to take a quick break from the diet or have an extra cheat day because they’ve seen some early results.. It is a point similar to that in exercise after you feel somewhat exhausted in workout, only to persist and catch what's known as a “second wind”. Although difficult, if you stay the course and commit to the diet, it will prove to get easier as time goes on.
Calorie and Nutrient Deficiencies
Because you are essentially minimizing your carb-intake to close to nothing, that also eliminates the vitamins and nutrients that come with it, and need to be replaced. This aspect of the diet, although troublesome, can be alleviated by the proper and effective use of multivitamins and minerals to provide the body with the nutrients missing from the diet.
Easy to load up on unhealthy fats
Because this diet prioritizes the ingestion and usage of fats as the prime energy source, it can be relatively easy for someone on the keto diet to lose focus as it pertains to putting the right fats in their body, such as eggs, cheese, avocado, and nuts, versus less healthy fats such as fatty cuts of meats, saturated fats, fried foods and sugary baked goods. Just as it's important to commit to the diet, it’s important to pay close attention to what types of foods are still being eaten.
Altogether, the keto diet is a great option when looking to lose weight fast while still being able to enjoy some of the foods you love, it’s crucial that you remain diligent when it comes diversifying your diet, keeping healthy options in the rotation, and deciding what food choices support your weight goals the most.
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