A HOT TOPIC: The Keto Diet
Personally, I am a big believer in eating all of the food groups to have a well-balanced diet, but let’s discuss the Keto diet to clear some of these questions up.
What is The Keto Diet?
The Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. The idea is for you to get more calories from protein and fat and less from carbohydrates. You cut back most on the carbs that are easy to digest, like sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread.
How Does the Keto Diet Work?
When you eat very few carbs per day, your body eventually runs out of fuel (blood sugar) it can use quickly. This typically takes 3 to 4 days. Then your body will start to break down protein and fat for energy, which can make you lose weight. This is called Ketosis.
Is the Keto Diet Beneficial for Everyone?
No, the Keto diet is not beneficial for everyone. There are certain groups of people who should avoid following a keto diet including:
-People with diabetes. The keto diet can cause spikes in blood sugar levels, which can be dangerous for people with diabetes.
-Those with kidney disease. The high fat content of the keto diet can put strain on the kidneys and cause them to function less effectively.
-Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The keto diet can make it difficult to get all the nutrients you need, and it may also lead to weight loss and dehydration.
The keto diet isn’t right for everyone. The people state above should avoid it altogether, and there are others who should only do it if they’re supervised by a doctor or dietician.
What are the Benefits of the Keto Diet?
There are a lot of potential benefits to the Keto diet. Some people find that it helps them lose weight, feel more energetic, and helps improve their overall health. If you feel that you are sluggish, bloated, having a hard time losing weight, and otherwise healthy, you could consider the Keto diet.
Some research also suggests following the Keto diet provide potential benefits for controlling blood sugar and improving insulin sensitivity.
If you’re thinking about starting the Keto diet, it’s important to talk to your doctor first. They can help you determine if the Keto diet is right for you, and give you some tips on how to get started, especially since it can have an impact on muscle loss and organ health.
What are the Disadvantages of the Keto Diet?
Like many diets, there are things to be aware of regarding the Keto diet. It can be very difficult to stick to, and it can cause major nutrient deficiencies, which can then lead to many issues.
There can be common short-term side effects like fatigue, headache, brain fog and upset stomach, aka “keto flu,” and long-term health risks include kidney stones, Osteoporosis and liver disease.
If you do start the Keto diet, you should eat heart healthy fats like fish, seeds, nuts, avocados, and olive oil. You should fill up on a wide variety of high fiber veggies as carbs – make sure you are eating a lot of these so you can get enough nutrients! If you find that it is too hard to stick to, you are becoming super restrictive, or you are walking around feeling like you got hit by a bus, stop, because Keto is probably not the best fit.
Jumping on a diet trend that makes you miserable and feel terrible is not a way to live your life. However, if you find you are feeling energetic, lively, and enjoying what you are able to eat, then you should absolutely continue to explore it.
In addition to focusing on what food goes in your body, we should all be on a mission to keeping our bodies, and minds, strong and healthy, with Workouts by CSFIT!
