Advantages of a Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is one of the most popular weight-loss systems known today. 

However, it might not be for everybody, as it is a very low-carb diet wherein the primary intent is to remain in a state of ketosis. This translates to a body that is burning fat as fuel as opposed to burning glucose.

Ketosis is accomplished mainly by removing glucose from the diet and replacing it with lots of fat and moderate amounts of protein.

So, if this sounds tough, it may help to understand the benefits and advantages of the keto diet, so that you may remind yourself of why you are doing what you are doing when it gets hard.

We are going to look into that in a moment.

But

If you want to understand more about keto, then check out - how it works and the rules.

You may know that a keto-like diet was first introduced to treat epileptic patients or individuals who have seizure problems, particularly children.

These days, the diet has lost its its reputation as the prime management tool for epilepsy mostly due to the availability of modern medicines which can treat the symptoms.

However, the diet is still followed by many epileptics and dieters all over because of its effectiveness. 

Following a ketogenic diet, has many more health benefits. Here are our top five...

Benefits to Expect when Starting a Keto Diet

Given the obesity epidemic, weight loss is the most prized of these benefits, but in some ways, it is almost a side effect of something much bigger which is improved health.

But as weight loss is the core drive for most people reading this report, let’s start with it.

Weight Loss

According to the National Association of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NDDK) and the Center of Disease Control (CDC):

• More than a third of the US adult population are obese
• More than two thirds of the US adult population are overweight or obese
• More than 5 percent are morbidly obese
• Approximately one third of children from the age of 6 to 19 are overweight

Unfortunately, there appears to be a correlation between the increase in obesity and the increase of unhealthy carbohydrate rich food.

These harmful high carbohydrate foods include simple sugars, sweets and candies, refined starches, and processed foods.

According to a statistical review of macro nutrient consumption data (Cohen E, et al., Statistical Review of U.S. Macro nutrient Consumption Data, 1965 to 2011), the number of overweight or obese Americans rose from 42 percent to 66 percent during the period 1971 to 2011.  During this same period:

• The intake of fat decreased from approximately 45 percent to 34 percent of total food intake.
• The intake of carbohydrates increased from roughly 39 percent to 50 percent of total food intake.

And we blame fat for the increase in obesity?

Various experts like Dr Tim Noakes and Dr. Sackner-Bernstein, suggest that these statistics suggest a link between high carb consumption in the standard American diet and obesity.

The benefits of losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight are massive, as obesity is linked to various lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, autoimmune disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

It is crucial to maintain a healthy weight for overall health. If a keto diet can really support this goal long term, it is worth trying.

However, it is a lifestyle change and not a fad diet or short term solution.

Reduce Visceral Fat

Have you seen all these adverts for losing belly fat?

As we age, we tend to gain more weight around our midriff. This is no surprise as it is a symptom of high insulin levels and sometimes also water retention.

Now, this belly fat consists of superficial subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.

Visceral fat is what we should all be most concerned about as it is deeply entrenched around the major organs deep inside your body. It is believed that there is a significant link between the size of your waist and life expectancy for both women and men.

The great thing about a keto diet is that research has shown that it helps to reduce visceral fat.

Stabilizes Blood Sugar

A keto diet virtually removes insulin triggers and therefore following a keto diet decreases the constant demand to make insulin. Insulin is needed for the breakdown of the glucose in the bloodstream after the consumption of dietary carbs.

High carb intake = high glucose = high insulin = high body fat

When carbs are limited, the constant need to produce insulin is limited thereby preventing the erratic blood sugar spikes that could unfortunately lead to insulin resistance.

The high carb, erratic blood sugar, high insulin cycle can eventually lead to metabolic syndrome.

Are you considering changing your diet already? Of course, first consult with your GP. This is even more important if you take any medication for diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.

Reduce Cravings and Hunger

Anybody who has lived through years and years of low fat diets, know what it feels like to be hungry, almost starving and to have extreme cravings for sweets, breads, potato chips and all these high carb foods.

I love not constantly being hungry anymore. For me it is one of the main advantages of a keto diet.

Mental Clarity

Do you ever feel that you live in a fog? That your memory is foggy? Then you will be amazed by the mental clarity that you can experience from a LCHF diet.

In Conclusion

A ketogenic lifestyle has been a treatment of choice to manage epilepsy for many years. Fortunately, we are now also starting to see these results in the treatment of lifestyle diseases like diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer's.

Given the advantages and benefits derived by a ketogenic diet, if you need to lose weight or are suffering from any of these lifestyle diseases it indeed makes sense, that you should at least give this kind of diet a go.

What's Next

If you need help, sign up for a program like this one with a custom program to help you get started with keto.

But if that is not for you, educate yourself.

Start with our keto checklists that will tell you what to eat, what not to eat, easy low carb food swaps and a shopping list.

Then follow our is it keto series, starting with is rice keto and followed by is corn keto?

Then plan your meals. You'll need good recipes - start here.

Following a keto diet, may be tough but it knows to know your why and the benefits and advantages you can look forward to.

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