What is a Keto Diet?

Also defined as a low-carbohydrate diet, the ketogenic diet is similar to the Atkins diet. However, the diet stresses obtaining calories from protein and fats instead of carbohydrates. In addition, the diet makes you cut off carbohydrates that are easy to digest, such as sugar, soda, pastries, and white bread.

If you wonder what a keto diet plan is, you can consult a doctor from Ujala Cygnus Hospital. We have expert doctors who can advise you on your questions regarding what a keto diet means.

How does it work?

Your body generally needs 50 grams of carbohydrates every day, and in case you intake less than the required amount, your body gradually runs out of energy. The process of your body running out of energy generally takes around 3 to 4 days, and then it starts to break down the proteins and fat available for generating the required energy. That would help you lose weight, and the phenomenon is known as ketosis. However, you must remember that a keto diet helps you to lose weight rather than focus on health benefits.

Who uses it?

Keto diets are mostly used by people who are looking to lose weight. Still, it also helps manage certain medical conditions such as epilepsy, different kinds of heart diseases, brain diseases, and acne. Before undergoing the keto diet, make sure to consult your doctor. They will examine you and suggest it according to the diagnosis. Here are a few long and short-term conditions that a keto diet would be helpful for:

• Weight loss: As compared to most other diets, the keto diet is more efficient in helping to lose weight effectively in the first 3 to 6 months. It is because the keto diet breaks down more fat to convert it into energy as compared to the amount of fat broken down to convert carbohydrates into energy. It can also be assumed that a diet consisting of high fat and protein levels makes you more satisfied. 

• Cancer: A hormone known as insulin helps your body store sugar as a source of energy. The Keto diet helps your body burn down this source of energy quickly so that you would not require to store it. The process leads your body to produce less amount of insulin gradually. Due to the formation of low insulin levels, your body can be protected against several diseases like cancer, and it also slows down the growth of cancer cells. However, research is still being done on the topic. 

• Heart Disease: It may seem kinda weird that a diet that promotes more fat can help lower the bad cholesterol and raise the good cholesterol. But the keto diet does that exact thing. The reason behind this phenomenon of your body producing more cholesterol can be due to the inability of your body to produce more insulin due to the keto diet. It protects your body from several diseases like high blood pressure, hardening arteries, heart failure and other heart problems. However, there is no clear sign of how long these effects might last.

• Acne: Carbohydrates play an active role in generating several skin problems, and cutting down on them might prevent most skin problems. Additionally, the keto diet leads to less production of insulin which results in a lot of breakouts of acne, as it enables your body to produce other hormones. However, the results of research on this topic are not very clear, and it cannot be said for sure if the keto diet prevents acne. 

• Diabetes: Diets low on carbohydrates help your body have a low level of blood sugar and are more effective compared to other kinds of diets. However, when your body converts fat into energy, it produces certain compounds known as ketones. But if you have Type 1 Diabetes, the ketones produced in your body might affect your body adversely. Therefore make sure to discuss this with your doctor and dietician before you decide to undergo the keto diet.

• Epilepsy: The keto diets have proven to be very helpful in controlling seizures caused due to epilepsy since the 1920s. However, you should consult with a dietician regarding what is best for you. 

• Other neurological disorders: The nervous system orders can affect your brain and spinal cord and the nerves that connect them. Like epilepsy, other nervous system disorders can be treated with the help of the keto diet, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and sleeping issues. According to scientists, the ketones produced in the body due to the keto diet convert the fat into energy and also protect your brain cells from damage.

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS is a condition in women in which the ovaries’ size increases more than it should, and tiny sacs filled with fluid develop around the eggs. It happens due to high levels of insulin, which can be countered with the help of a keto diet. You will be able to treat the condition with the help of keto diets, change in lifestyles, exercise and weight loss.

Are you looking for more info on what a ketogenic diet is and who might it be suitable for? Then, visit Ujala Cygnus Hospital to get the best consultation from expert doctors at the best price.

How does a ketogenic diet work with exercise?

In training, a keto diet can be of massive help to endurance athletes like marathon runners, cyclists, swimmers, etc. That is because it improves the oxygen levels and muscle-to-fat ratios of your body when working hard. The only downside is that although this diet may be quite effective during training, it may not work so well during peak performance at the time of competition.

What are the side effects of a keto diet?

Some of the side effects of the keto diet are constipation, mild low blood sugar and indigestion. It might also lead to high levels of kidney stones or acids in your body. Another side effect is the occurrence of “keto flu”, which causes headache, weakness, fatigue and bad breath.

Execute this diet with care

When your body breaks down its fat reserves during the diet, it can have some adverse effects on your kidneys. Moreover, you may have some problems switching back to a normal diet from the keto diet if you are overweight or obese, or suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular problems. So always consult your doctor before opting for this diet.
If you have more queries about what a keto diet is and how it works, get in touch with the doctors and diet experts at Ujala Cygnus Hospital.