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The Keto Diet – What it is And How it Works

keto diet

The Keto diet has been around for a while now, and unlike many other diets that rapidly gain popularity, keto diets have proven to work so well that they remain one of the most popular diets around.

However, despite their popularity, especially in the United States, there are many people who don’t know what exactly a keto diet is and are unsure if it’s something they would be interested in trying.

What is a Keto Diet?

A keto diet (sometimes referred to as a ketogenic diet) is a diet plan which consists of eating a mixture of low carb, high fat, and moderate protein foods. This diet aims to help your body burn fat as effectively as possible, so it’s often billed as being ideal for people looking to quickly lose weight. 

Some health experts and studies also claim that it can be helpful in managing Type Two Diabetes.

How Does The Keto Diet Work?

There are plenty of low carb diets out there, and it’s obvious to see how they aim to help you lose weight (low carbs usually equals low calories, so avoiding high carb foods can help you maintain a calorific deficit and burn those excess pounds.)

In contrast, the keto diet seems a bit unusual at first, as eating high fat foods seems counterintuitive. 

The way a keto diet works is this: by eating hardly any carbs, your body enters the metabolic state of ketosis, which essentially makes your body burn fat, both from your diet and excess fat stored on your body. 

Keto diets also cause you to burn fat by making your body release ketones, which are small fuel molecules that can be used as an alternative energy source. This effectively makes your body burn fat 24/7, as it is relying on burning fat to produce energy most of the time (instead of using carbs as a fuel source.) 

Are Keto Diets Effective?

Most people report successfully losing weight on a keto diet, and there’s plenty of scientific research which explains why it’s so effective. However, keto diets remain quite controversial, especially when it comes to extreme keto diets which consist of cutting out most types of food and therefore considerably limit your nutrition. 

Furthermore, a keto diet should be adopted very cautiously – usually after consulting a medical professional – if you are suffering from certain diseases or if you are breastfeeding. 

What Foods Should I Eat on a Keto Diet?

organic foods

As mentioned, the primary aim of a keto diet is to induce ketosis and stay there as much as possible. So, to do this, you need to avoid carbs as much as you can, and alternatively eat foods that are rich in protein and have a moderate fat content. 

Seafood, grilled chicken, vegetables, red meat, and eggs are just a handful of foods which often form part of keto diets. 

And, you shouldn’t feel obliged to follow strict meal plans which fitness gurus recommend. Instead, you should build your own meal plans to ensure you have a good balance of foods you enjoy. As long as you follow the aforementioned guidelines, you can still get great results even if you use your own meal plans. 

A Quick Summary

  • Keto diets have been around for a while, and they can be a great way to burn fat.
  • A keto diet is a type of low carb diet, but it also involves eating foods with moderate fat and protein content.
  • The entire purpose of a keto diet is to make your body enter a state of ketosis, so you’re burning excess fat for energy instead of using carbs as a fuel source.
  • Popular foods to eat on a keto diet include grilled chicken, vegetables and boiled eggs.