Keto diets are all the rage these days, and for a good reason! They can help you burn fat more effectively by putting your body into ketosis. While following a Keto diet to lose weight may seem like a significant change, it can improve your overall health and quality of life.
What is the Keto Diet?
The Keto diet is a very high-FAT, moderate-protein and low-carbohydrate diet.
In contrast, the typical Western diet is high in carbs and sugar and contains much less fat. Therefore, to understand the Keto Diet, you need first to understand the process of ketosis.
KETOSIS
Ketosis is the state your body goes into when it uses ketones instead of glucose for fuel. Ketones are a substance created when the body breaks down fat.
Glucose is what our body uses as an energy source, whether it comes from carbs or sugar. When we cut carbohydrates out of our diet, our body becomes faster at using fat as an energy source and becomes miserable at using glucose. This is what causes ketosis.
While in ketosis, your body:
Burns fat instead of carbs/sugar
Decreases the release of insulin, a hormone that keeps your blood sugar levels stable
increases the number of fat-burning enzymes in the muscle cells
Why does your body go into ketosis?
Our bodies are programmed to survive. It knows it must use different methods to remain alive by monitoring available glucose levels in the blood.
When we eat carbs, our bodies produce insulin. This insulin release tells our bodies to stop burning fats or using muscle proteins for energy and instead burn sugars from carbohydrates in the diet. This process usually results in a feeling of fullness and increased energy.
When you omit carbs from your diet, your body no longer has as much insulin being released, and it frees up fat that was previously locked away. These freed-up fats are then burned for energy, which leads to increased energy, quicker weight loss and fat-burning.
When deciding which diet is best for you, it is crucial to consider many factors such as your goals, lifestyle, and any health concerns you may have. With so many popular diets available, it can be tough to make a decision. For example, the ketogenic diet has recently gained popularity as a weight-loss method. Still, as with any new diet, it is always best to speak with your doctor before ensuring it is the right fit for you.
