Keto Diet
Do you know what a ketogenic diet is? You might be starting to hear more about this eating style in the news. A keto diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that has been frequently used in recent years by people looking to lose weight. It's similar to the Atkins diet, but with fewer unrestricted carbs and more high-quality fats. The upside to this type of diet is that you'll lose weight relatively quickly because your body uses stored fat as its primary energy source. The downside is that you're encouraged to eat a high amount of unhealthy saturated and hydrogenated fats, which can increase your risk for heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
Keto is short for “ketogenesis” which is the process of breaking down fat cells into ketones to produce energy instead of using glucose. Ketones are an alternative fuel source when glucose isn’t available and they are produced during periods of starvation or fasting. When you eat something high in carbs your body will first use that as energy before using any fat stores you have in your body. When you switch over to this type of eating plan your body will start breaking down fat cells for energy instead of carbs so it can enter into a state called “ketosis".
The ketogenic diet was first developed in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy. Recently, it’s been gaining popularity as a way to lose weight and improve your health. It works by triggering your body to burn fat instead of carbs for energy.
Following a ketogenic diet can help you lose weight and improve your health, but it’s not easy or quick. You’ll need to be patient and give it at least 12 weeks to see results. Here are some tips to follow if you want to try the keto diet.
Types of Ketogenic Diet
There are many different types of keto diets, as the diet can be tailored to fit each individual's needs and preferences.
There are three general types of keto diets: The standard ketogenic diet, the modified ketogenic diet, and the cyclical ketogenic diet.
The standard ketogenic diet is the most common type of keto diet and involves eating a very low-carbohydrate diet with adequate amounts of protein and healthy fats. This type of diet has been shown to be effective for weight loss and has been recommended for people with epilepsy.
The modified ketogenic diet is similar to the standard ketogenic diet but includes a small number of carbohydrates during the last few weeks before transitioning to a full keto diet. The cyclical ketogenic diet includes alternating periods of high-fat and low-carbohydrate days. This allows the body to adapt better to switch between these two energetic states.
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A cyclical ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate, moderate protein, and high-fat diet that is used to treat epilepsy, autism, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurologic conditions. It is also being studied as a treatment for cancer. The ketogenic diet induces a state of ketosis in the body, which is caused by the burning of stored fat. In this state, the body uses proteins and other substrates to make glucose instead of glucose from carbohydrates.