Ketogenic diets are trending right now in the world of nutritional performance and weight loss. Used with the right group of selected people, this is an effective way to lose weight, increase brain clarity, energy and overall athletic performance. Even some special branches of the military armed forces are using ketogenic diets with their soldiers.
A ketogenic diet is a low carb diet, allowing the body to produce ketones in the liver to be used as energy. When eating a high carbohydrate diet, your body will produce glucose and insulin. Glucose is an easy molecule for your body to convert and use as energy so that it will be chosen over any other energy source. Insulin is produced to process the glucose in your bloodstream by taking it around the body. Since the glucose is being used as a primary energy, body fat is not needed and therefore continues to be stored. On a higher carbohydrate diet, the body uses glucose as the main form of energy. By lowering the intake of carbohydrates, the body is induced into a state of ketosis.
Ketosis is a natural process the body initiates to help us survive when food intake is low. During this state, we produce ketones, which are produced from the breakdown of fats in the liver. The end goal of a properly maintained ketogenic diet is to force your body into this metabolic state. This is achieved by creating a deficit of carbohydrate calories rather than starvation.
Our bodies are incredibly adaptive to change when you replace carbohydrates with fats, and the body will begin to burn ketones as the primary energy source.
Living a ketogenic lifestyle requires a strong commitment, focus, the proper selection of foods and constant monitoring to confirm that you are in a state of Ketosis.
Ketostixs™ are urine test strips that allow instant confirmation that you are in a state of ketosis. As with all diets, for them to work properly, there must be clarity on the mechanism of action. Often people get in trouble trying to maintain a keto diet, mixed with a low carb diet, or mixed with other diets. Mixing different diets does not work. When following a new diet make sure the food you're consuming is from high quality sources and are nutrient dense. There are keto supplements that help put people into ketosis easier and more effectively. Today there are many ketogenic friendly foods available in the retail markets and online.
There are many healthy fats sources to help when ketogenic dieting including olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, ghee. Some patients who have gone on ketogenic diet due to their genetic makeup actually have a rise in lipids, whereas others do not. To find out if the ketogenic diet is right for you, answer the following questions:
1. Am I committed to a rigid diet plan?
2. Am I looking to lose weight?
3. Are you looking for more energy?
4. Can you avoid a diet that containing carbohydrates?
5. Are you willing to do the monitoring it takes?
6. Have you tried other lifestyle plans that don't work?
If you answered 'yes' to these questions, the keto diet is for you!
As with any new lifestyle or dietary regimen please consult your physician or healthcare practitioner first, have baseline blood work done before you implement this ketogenic dieting lifestyle.
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Disclaimer
This blog is for informational purposes only. It is NOT intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a licensed, qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice.
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