If you’re interested in optimal living or maintaining a healthy weight, you’ve definitely heard about ketogenic diets. Ketogenic or keto diets have gained a lot of popularity lately, especially after endorsements by celebrities like Jessica Biel, Megan Fox, Matthew McConaughey, Gwyneth Paltrow and Miley Cyrus. What exactly does it mean to go keto and what kinds of goals can the diet help you accomplish? The following guide will provide the answers.
Keto is a low carb diet that enables the body to burn large quantities of fat during everyday activities and exercise. In many sense, the ketogenic nutritional plan is similar to the Atkins diet but there’s one main difference. People on a ketogenic diet can consume restricted quantities of protein.
There’s a simple reason why most carbs are excluded from the keto diet. The glucose molecule is the simplest form of energy that the body will prefer over any other. Thus, consuming a diet that is high in carbs will make it more difficult to get rid of the fat deposits in the body.
A decrease in the intake of carbs leads to a condition known as ketosis. Ketosis refers to a natural process that the body uses to obtain energy whenever the intake of food is lowered. Forcing the body into this metabolic state helps for more effective fat burning and a reduction in the body fat percentage.
Going on a keto diet will obviously make it easier for you to get rid of excess weight and enjoy a slimmer, healthier body. The benefits, however, aren’t limited solely to getting rid of fat. It also lead to a reduction in triglycerides and cholesterol. This may sound weird since the consumption of fat is increased to go in a state of ketosis. Still, few people understand the fact that excessive sugar intake is one of the main factors contributing to elevated triglycerides and cholesterol. Several clinical studies confirm that people who cut carbs tend to experience a serious reduction in triglyceride levels.
Ketogenic nutritional plans also reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. The diet is particularly beneficial for individuals who suffer from insulin resistance – a condition that makes it very difficult, almost impossible to lose fat. Finally, such nutritional plans have some anti-cancer benefits. There is some evidence that excessive sugar intake could be linked to a higher risk of certain cancers. Thus, cutting sugar from one’s diet can have a great protective effect.
Most people can adopt a ketogenic meal plan safely and effectively. There will be no side effects or health consequences. People who are taking medications for diabetes and high blood pressure need to talk to a physician prior to adopting such a serious diet change.
Ketosis can also have an impact on the dosage and the effectiveness of certain medications. If you suffer from a chronic medical condition or you’re currently taking pharmaceutical products for the treatment of an ailment, you’ll need to have a conversation with your physician.
Even perfectly healthy individuals may want to talk to a clinician or a nutrition expert prior to getting started with the diet. An experienced professional will make recommendations and suggestions about optimal meal planning, enabling everyone to enjoy the numerous benefits that low carb meal plans bring to the table.