There has never been a diet fad with the meteoric rise of keto, but is it safe to do the keto diet? As a result of its unusualness and strictness, several specialists are sceptical about the diet’s effectiveness for some people.
Getting the facts correct for you was our top priority, so we consulted experts in the field to know whether ketosis is healthy. Here are the most important considerations for your health when adopting a ketogenic diet.
To What Extent Does Keto Promote Health? Five Most Important Facts
Keto and other low-carb diets are generally well-tolerated because of this. Nonetheless, there are more optimal answers in some circumstances.
If you’re attempting to decide if the ketogenic diet is a good idea for your health, here are five things to think about.
The Ketogenic Diet Is Still Being Studied.
Keto may appear trendy now, but the diet has been around for quite some time. In the 1920s, the ketogenic diet was first employed to treat children with epilepsy. To the best of our knowledge, it has also been tested thoroughly and proved safe even in this demographic.
Though initial results with adults utilising keto to increase fat loss have been encouraging, much remains to be learned about this strategy.
The ketogenic diet has been proposed as a therapeutic option for a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury, and stroke, and animal studies have even hinted at a potential role for the ketogenic diet in the treatment of certain cancers. Despite widespread speculation that the ketogenic diet could improve various ailments, to date, scientific research has failed to provide evidence that it does so for anything other than epilepsy.
Ketosis and low-carb diets, in particular, appear to improve insulin sensitivity.
Further, studies show that those who follow a ketogenic diet typically have lower levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol and higher levels of good (HDL).
It is vitally important, however, not to connect these early beliefs and links with causes or treatments. Few studies have looked at the long-term health effects of individuals adopting a strict keto diet to lose weight, most of which are tiny and conducted on animals.
It’s Important to Make Wise Keto Food Decisions
Following the ketogenic diet can be challenging to eat healthy, well-balanced food. Diets that eliminate whole food groups (or “macros”) significantly increase the risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Carbohydrates are found in almost all plant-based diets; they are not limited to processed meals, bread, and sugar. Despite their carbohydrate content, avocados, almonds, seeds, and green vegetables are all cherished on the ketogenic diet.
It’s doubtful you’ll obtain enough nutrients if you cut off carbs entirely. Meat, oil, and some cheese would be the only things still available.
That’s why many talks about “net carbohydrates,” or total carbs for the day minus fibre. Fibre, a carbohydrate not easily absorbed by the body, is included in many nutrient-dense plant meals and does not appear to affect blood sugar or the ability to enter ketosis as sugar does. This is the perfect example of how avocados and cauliflower can be included in a healthier keto diet.
In addition, while it is commonly stated that less than 20 grammes of carbs are the target carb quantity for keto, the perfect keto macro balance can vary from person to person and relies on some factors. However, some people have a much higher carbohydrate tolerance and should take advantage of the additional nutritional opportunities this provides.
Ketogenic Diets Aid in Fat Loss
The fact is that not everyone can or should follow a standard low-fat diet. Moreover, keto allows people who prefer heartier, more decadent fare the chance to lose weight while doing so.
Ketogenic diets can aid weight loss in several ways, including satisfying dietary preferences while suppressing appetite. One study found that those on the ketogenic diet reported feeling fuller after eating less, making it easier to reduce their caloric intake.
Ketosis has been linked to a mild increase in metabolism and enhanced fat-burning capabilities, both of which can make it simpler to shed unwanted pounds. These hypotheses, however, have yet to be conclusively demonstrated in high-quality human investigations.
In addition, there is solid evidence supporting the effectiveness of low-carb diets for weight loss. But there must be solid proof that the ketogenic diet is more effective than other low-carb eating strategies for fat loss.
Whether or not you enter ketosis, limiting your calorie intake is essential for success on the ketogenic diet. There’s no getting around it: when it comes to weight loss, the quantity of food eaten is still far more crucial than the quality.
A Keto Diet Is Difficult To Maintain
A strict keto diet requires a significant lifestyle change, eliminating many commonly enjoyed items. Also, if you’re trying to maintain ketosis, cheat days on the ketogenic diet can be more extreme than on other diets. Therefore, it can appear quite challenging to maintain a ketogenic diet for an extended period.
This is why some people try to lose weight and do so on a ketogenic diet for a limited amount of time before going back to eating normally. This is why many people who try the ketogenic diet give up after a few months and try a more modest approach.
Despite its challenges, this eating method is safe and highly successful. What works best for you will depend entirely on your circumstances. Keto isn’t a silver bullet, but it can provide a valuable foundation for calorie restriction and physical success if you know what you’re doing.
Not everyone will thrive on the Ketogenic diet.
The ketogenic diet has been well recognised as being secure for use by both young and old. But the ketogenic diet is still not the best option for some people, especially those with specific health issues.
Following a Ketogenic Diet Without Harm
Here’s how to begin a ketogenic diet without compromising your health or nutritional status.
- If you have a health problem or are worried about how the ketogenic diet can affect your health, you must talk to your doctor.
- Find out how many calories you need daily and what kind of keto macros to aim for.
- Discover tasty, healthy, and keto-friendly items to incorporate into your meal plan.
- Learn how to make nutritious keto meals at home by learning meal prep.
- Use a nutrition app to keep track of your daily food intake and ensure your body gets the nutrients it needs.
Conclusion
The high fat intake, especially the high level of harmful saturated fat, along with limits on nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, and grains, is a worry for long-term heart health, which is why the ketogenic diet may be advised for some persons with uncontrolled epilepsy.
Constipation and vitamin deficits can result from insufficient vegetables, fruits, legumes, and other whole foods. Fatigue, headache, mental fog, and stomach discomfort, collectively known as the “keto flu,” are common short-term side effects. Kidney stones, osteoporosis, and liver disease are only some of the long-term health concerns.
So, is it safe to do the keto diet? Well, in most cases ketogenic diet can bring exceptional results in weight loss, but you need to take care of a few things before sticking to this diet plan.
Additional Resources
- Is Okra Good For the Keto Diet?
- Is Garcinia Cambogia Good for the Keto Diet?
- Is Diet Green Tea Keto-Friendly?
- Can You Have Cinnamon On The Keto Diet?
Frequently Asked Questions
To whom the ketogenic diet is not recommended.
People with hyperglycemia, type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or who take Metformin, Insulin, or any other medicine for their condition should avoid the Keto diet at all costs.
Is it healthy to try the ketogenic diet?
A ketogenic diet is likely to be safe in the short term. However, this method is extremely challenging to maintain over time. Choose healthy fat and protein sources like olive oil, avocados, and nuts if you try a keto diet to speed up your weight loss (almonds, walnuts).
For how long should you stay on the ketogenic diet?
Aim to give it a minimum of six weeks to work. After that, the diet is probably not for you if you feel weary and despise the meals. Some people report feeling tired at first but then regaining their energy after a couple of weeks on the ketogenic diet.
Is there a keto-friendly bread option?
Traditional loaves of bread, including white, wheat, oat, rye, and multigrain, are off-limits on the Keto diet due to their high carb content. Instead, you can bake or buy gluten-free bread high in fibre and low in carbohydrates. Common ingredients include coconut flour, almond flour, or a mix.
