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How the Keto Diet Works (And Why It's So Effective)

The ketogenic diet is a well-known way to lose weight and improve your health. It’s also known for being challenging. The ketogenic diet is fairly restrictive, and if you are new to it, you may need some guidance to make sure you stay in ketosis long-term.

By Federico VieroPublished 3 years ago 3 min read
How the Keto Diet Works (And Why It's So Effective)
Photo by Clark Douglas on Unsplash

We understand that starting a new diet can be difficult, especially when there are so many different diets out there. But the Keto diet doesn’t just have great results; it also has fantastic science behind it. By understanding the science behind how the Keto Diet works, you can use this information to make informed decisions about whether or not this will be a beneficial eating plan for you.

What is the Keto Diet?

The ketogenic diet (or keto diet) is a low-carb diet that puts you into a metabolic state known as “ketosis.” Ketosis is when your body burns fat instead of glucose (sugar) for energy. While in ketosis, many people report improved mental clarity, more energy, and weight loss. There aren’t any special foods that make up a ketogenic diet. Instead, it’s all about carb intake. The ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet, which means that you’re limiting your carb intake to roughly 5% of your daily calories. This is less than what many people are used to eating, but it’s enough to get your body into a state of ketosis, where it starts burning fat for energy instead of carbs.

See which are the best keto diet recipes for free (Watch the video)

How does the Keto Diet work?

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that causes your body to produce small fuel molecules called “ketones”. Ketones can be used for energy, like glucose, but unlike glucose, they don’t spark the same insulin response in your body. Some cells in the human body can even run entirely on ketones, including your brain. There are three stages of ketosis, and the diet progresses through each of these stages. The stages include: The goal of the ketogenic diet is to get your body into the third stage of ketosis, which is when your body uses ketones for energy. This stage is also known as nutritional ketosis, and it’s what you want to be in.

So, how does ketosis happen?

Ketosis happens when your body doesn’t have enough glucose, or sugar, for energy, so it breaks down other substances, like fat, for fuel instead. This process happens inside the cells of your body, especially your liver and kidneys, and is called “metabolism.” You start to enter ketosis when you eat fewer than 20 grams of carbohydrates each day. This could be lower if you are very active and need more energy.

See which are the best keto diet recipes for free (Watch the video)

Benefits of the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet has many health benefits, including: - Fat loss: Because the ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet, it can help you burn more fat. - Improved brain function: Studies suggest that the ketogenic diet can improve your brain function. - Increased energy: A ketogenic diet can increase your energy levels because it takes less energy to burn fat than carbohydrates. - Improved blood sugar: The ketogenic diet may improve blood sugar and insulin levels for people with Type 2 diabetes. - Improved athletic performance: Although more research needs to be done, studies suggest that the ketogenic diet can improve athletic performance.

Side Effects of the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic diet can be beneficial for your health and can help you lose weight, but there are some side effects you should be aware of: - Bad breath: Although rare, some people on the ketogenic diet have reported having bad breath. - Constipation: The high-fat content of the ketogenic diet can cause constipation, especially if you are not getting enough fiber. - Diarrhea: If you eat too much fat, you can have loose stools. Eating more fiber can help. - Weight-loss stalls: Some people find that they lose weight in the beginning of the ketogenic diet, but then they plateau and start to gain weight again.

See which are the best keto diet recipes for free (Watch the video)

Bottom line

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that puts your body into a metabolic state called “ketosis”. Ketosis happens when your body doesn’t have enough glucose for energy, so it breaks down fat for fuel instead. The ketogenic diet has many benefits, but it can also cause bad breath, constipation, and weight-loss plateaus. Overall, the ketogenic diet is a healthy eating plan that you can use to improve your health.

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