Ketogenic Diet
The ketogenic diet is also known by many names with some of them being such as keto diet and low carbohydrates diet, among others. This is a diet that usually has very low amounts of carbohydrates which makes the liver to manufacture ketones which are used as energy by the body. What generally happens when you consume a meal that has lots of carbohydrates is that the body generates insulin which is used to process by the glucose coming from carbohydrates so as to provide the body with the energy that it requires so as to perform optimally. This is a bad thing for our well being as the production of excess glucose makes our body not to be able to utilize fats, storing them in the process since glucose is much easier to break down.
The major goal of this diet is to make our body to have no other option other than going into a metabolic state where the liver manufactures the ketones which breaks down fats. This is, therefore, a perfect diet for those looking to lose weight. Some of the foods which are safe to consume while on this kind of diet are such as;
- Low carbohydrates vegetables. These are vegetables which have high levels of nutrients such as vitamin C and very low levels of carbohydrates and calories. While on this type of diet you will have to do away with vegetables which are starchy. Perfect examples of veggies which have low carbohydrates, are high in nutrients, and are less starchy include cauliflower, zucchini, and broccoli, among many others.
- Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, and coconut oil. This is because healthy fats are extremely nutritious and studies have even shown that fats such as avocados drastically reduce LDL cholesterol which is harmful while raising HDL cholesterol which is beneficial to the body when consumed in large amounts.
- High protein foods such as cheese and plain yogurt. Cheese and yogurt are very essential when it comes to weight loss as they have been proven to promote feelings of fullness and to reduce appetite enabling people to avoid eating unnecessarily.
The ketogenic diet has a lot of benefits and some of them include;
- It leads to weight loss. It is, in fact, one of the most effective diets for weight loss as individuals who are on this kind of diet usually shed weight faster compared to those using other diets.
- It helps us to fight and manage diseases. Ketogenic diet helps to lower both the insulin and blood sugar levels in the body which is very essential to people suffering from Type 2 diabetes and to everyone in general. Also, the diet helps to reduce blood pressure which in return helps to prevent serious disease such as kidney failure, stroke, and heart failure, among many others. This diet is also used as therapies for some brain disorders while studies have shown that the ketogenic diet is capable of curing epilepsy in babies. With such kind of benefits to our health, it is easy to see why this diet is one of the most sought-after diets for people trying to lose weight and also for those who are looking to live a healthy life.