The ketogenic diet (keto) is often dismissed as a fad. Much of the media even portrays keto as unsustainable. Even some medical practitioners are skeptical about the health benefits. But we know that the keto diet is a tenable solution to a wide variety of health conditions. Keto has a good track-record in the treatment of epilepsy, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
Health professionals and the government have told you over and over to avoid eating fat and to grab onto whole grains with both hands. As we’ve written before, there have been more than 60 years’ worth of the food and beverage industry science that has been manipulated. The sugar industry has deep pockets and successfully demonized fat, but good fat is good for you.
The keto diet is high-fat and low-carb. Typically, you eat less than 20g of carbohydrates a day in order to achieve ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of glucose. Ketosis is the process of when your body runs out of carbohydrates to convert to energy, Ketones are a natural result of this fat burning process. On the keto diet, you’ll eat moderate protein and high amounts of good fats. You can find good fats in coconut oil, avocado, good quality olive oil, grass-fed butter and fatty cuts of meat from organic grass-fed livestock. You’ll avoid sugar and carbohydrate-heavy foods such as bread, cakes, cookies, candy, soda, ice cream, cereal, rice, pasta, potatoes, store-bought sauces and most fruits.
You may be hesitant to start the keto diet if you’ve heard about the initial “keto flu”. The keto flu is a collection of symptoms including brain fog that sets in for the first couple of weeks once you start following the ketogenic diet. Your body needs time to adjust to running on ketones, and only by pushing through this initial discomfort you’ll be able to reap the benefits.
Here are some benefits of the ketogenic diet:
1. Keto Reduces Your Visceral Fat
You’re aware that the keto diet is a fantastic way to lose excess weight. Did you know it also helps you lose visceral fat far more effectively than a standard low-fat diet? Visceral fat is the fat below your subcutaneous fat. This fat surrounds and protects your organs, most notably your kidneys, liver and pancreas.
Your doctor can estimate your visceral fat from your total body fat or waist measurements. At normal levels, it is no cause for concern, but if you have a high level of visceral fat, it increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and some cancers. The keto diet can help protect you from these conditions. Individuals on a keto diet often report that they have a much trimmer body than before.
2. Keto Improves Your Mood and Hunger Levels
Breaking your sugar addiction through adoption of the keto lifestyle helps you feel less hungry. You’ll be less obsessed with sugary foods. You won’t feel drawn to the fridge every time you pass it! Keto dieters have an advantage as the diet contains plenty of good fats to help you feel fuller for longer. Often, this can make the reduction in calories easier to bear than in the standard low-fat diet.
3. Keto Enhances Your Memory
The Keto diet is used to counteract the effects of epilepsy, migraines and other neurological conditions. Following keto reduces inflammation which can have a positive effect on your condition. Keto also reduces symptoms of brain fog and improves mild cognitive impairment.
Ketones are a more efficient energy source for your brain than glucose, and they act as a powerful antioxidant, protecting brain cells. A diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids also counteracts the inflammatory response in your brain.
4. Keto Improves Oral Health
Dental plaque forms when the bacteria that live on your teeth consume carbohydrates. The bacteria convert these carbohydrates into harmful acids that can eat into your tooth enamel. It can develop below the gum line as well as on the visible tooth. Following a low-carb diet can slow the progress of tartar, hardened plaque, between visits to the dentist.
By following a keto diet, you’re ensuring that your teeth aren’t bathed in a film of sugar that can take hours to work away. In fact, eating vegetables that contain plenty of fiber, helps clean your teeth naturally.
5. Keto Helps Acne
As we’ve discussed, the keto diet has an anti-inflammatory effect on your body. The most visible sign that it works in this way is in the marked improvement in acne. Adult acne can be embarrassing, particularly if it’s an indicator of a hormone imbalance such as PCOS or the beginnings of menopause.
If you follow the keto diet, the symptoms of menopause or PCOS can improve drastically, as it helps balance your hormones. You’ll also find it easier to maintain your weight, which is usually made more difficult by fluctuations in hormone levels.
