Over the years there have been many fad diets which have come and go. We have all tried at least one or two of them, short term, not get the results we were expecting, give up and resort back to our old more comfortable ways of eating.
One diet that stands out from the rest is the Ketogenic or Keto Diet. This way of eating has been around for many years but has just recently began gaining in popularity. Why is the Keto Diet different? As Dr. Axe explains, this revolutionary way of eating brings us a better understanding of the science behind how properly fueling our bodies can change the way it functions by allowing the burning of fats instead of carbohydrates for its energy source.
At the core of the ketogenic diet is severely restricting intake of all or most foods with sugar and starch (carbohydrates). These foods are broken down into sugar (insulin and glucose) in our blood once we eat them, and if these levels become too high, extra calories are much more easily stored as body fat and results in unwanted weight gain.
Ketosis takes place when glucose from carbohydrate foods (like grains, all sources of sugar or fruit, for example) is drastically reduced, which forces the body to find an alternative fuel source: fat. Although dietary fat (especially saturated fat) often gets a bad name, provoking fear of weight gain and heart disease, it’s also your body’s second preferred source of energy when carbohydrates are not easily accessible.
In the absence of glucose, which is normally used by cells as a quick source of energy, the body starts to burn fat and produces ketones instead. Once ketone levels in the blood rise to a certain point, you enter into a state of ketosis — which usually results in quick and consistent weight loss until you reach a healthy, stable body weight.
While the Ketogenic Diet is excellent when it comes to weight loss, there are many other health benefits you will experience. Everything from reducing the risk for type II diabetes, heart disease, help protect against cancer, and combat certain neurological disorders. The short AND long term health advantages are remarkable and backed by science.