Keto Diet has been popping up all over social media this year. It is highly prized as a way to drop some L-Bs in a pretty quick and healthy way, but what is this diet really all about? Even though it has been more popular lately, the Keto Diet has actually been around for 90 years.
Let’s start from the beginning –
What is a Keto Diet?
Remember that nasty diet back in the early 2000s called the Atkins Diet, well the Keto Diet is essentially the same thing but promoted with a bit more variety to the diet–and healthier. The Keto Diet, keto stands for ketogenic, is a diet that is a low-carb diet, in which the body produces ketones in the liver to use as energy in place of burning carbohydrates for energy. When your body has reached this state then it is said that your body is in ketosis.
The Keto Diet a diet that promises weight loss results, much like other LCHF or low-carb and high-fat diets do.
How does it work?
When your body isn’t in ketosis and you eat something high in carbs, your body will produce glucose and insulin. When your glucose and insulin are at proper levels, your body will use them for energy. Of course, too many carbohydrates aren’t good either, which is where carbohydrates get the bad rep for causing weight gain.
When your body is in ketosis, the body reacts as if it is in starvation mode. When your body is deprived of carbohydrates (under 50g) it depends on the liver for energy. The liver goes into overdrive to be the sole provider of energy for the body, including the organs and brain first. The energy from the liver is ketones. The liver using fatty acids from your food or body fat to create energy for the body to live on.
Any extra ketones in the body, exit the body via the mouth or through the body’s urine.
What are the benefits?
- weight management
- appetite control
- brain support
- gut health
- energy boost
- increased levels of the good cholesterol
- reduce blood sugar and insulin levels
- therapeutic for several brain disorders
What are potential side effects?
- This funny thing called Keto breath. It really is a thing, read all about it here.
- weak bones
- headaches
- bad mood
- bad memory
- increased risk of disease
- slowed metabolism
Can you workout while on the Keto Diet?
Absolutely. The Keto Diet isn’t a diet that restricts calories, so there is no need to stop any types of exercising you may already be doing. In fact, the Keto Diet is perfect to pair with any workout regime. There is no wrong exercise or right exercise to pair with the diet. The ideal workout is all based on what your goals are. Whether you are focusing on losing weight or gaining muscle, or anything else more specific, keep up the good work! You should start to see more results in no time.
Looking to add a new workout to your Keto Diet? Try out our Treadmill HIIT workout.
