What is Keto?
This is the description of a Ketogenic Diet along with some history as to why the diet was initially created:
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“The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control (refractory) epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is particularly important in fueling brain-function. However, if there is little carbohydrate in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as ketosis, leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures.[1] Almost half of children, and young people, with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half, and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.[2] There is some evidence that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective.[1] The most common adverse effect is constipation, affecting about 30% of patients—this was due to fluid restriction, which was once a feature of the diet, but this led to increased risk of kidney stones and is no longer considered beneficial.[2][3]
The original therapeutic diet for paediatric epilepsy provides just enough protein for body growth and repair, and sufficient calories[Note 1] to maintain the correct weight for age and height. The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet was developed for treatment of paediatric epilepsy in the 1920s and was widely used into the next decade, but its popularity waned with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. This classic ketogenic diet contains a 4:1 ratio by weight of fat to combined protein and carbohydrate. This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables, bread, pasta, grains and sugar, while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as nuts, cream, and butter.[1] Most dietary fat is made of molecules called long-chain triglycerides (LCTs). However, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)—made from fatty acids with shorter carbon chains than LCTs—are more ketogenic. A variant of the classic diet known as the MCT ketogenic diet uses a form of coconut oil, which is rich in MCTs, to provide around half the calories. As less overall fat is needed in this variant of the diet, a greater proportion of carbohydrate and protein can be consumed, allowing a greater variety of food choices.[4][5]
In the mid-1990s, Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams, whose son’s severe epilepsy was effectively controlled by the diet, created the Charlie Foundation to promote it. Publicity included an appearance on NBC’s Dateline programme and …First Do No Harm (1997), a made-for-television film starring Meryl Streep. The foundation sponsored a multicentre research study, the results of which—announced in 1996—marked the beginning of renewed scientific interest in the diet.[1]
Possible therapeutic uses for the ketogenic diet have being studied for various neurological disorders in addition to epilepsy: Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), autism, brain cancer, headache, neurotrauma, pain, Parkinson’s disease (PD) and sleep disorders.[6]”
In my own words:
Simply put, the Keto Diet is a low carb, medium protein and high fat diet. Our bodies typically utilize carbohydrates to create glucose which in turn fuels our body by creating energy. However, with current American diets, food is now HIGHLY processed and full of carbs as well as sugar. Excess carbs, when not being burned off by exercise or movement, will turn into excess fat. With Keto, the body doesn’t have the carbs to convert to glucose for energy so instead the body burns fat, which it then converts into energy.
I’ve learned there are many forms and representations of how the diet should be done, but from my own personal experience, I simply track my macros (macros are total grams of Proteins, Carbs and Fats) for each day. I use an app called “Carb Manager” which allows me to input my height, weight and goals for counting carbs (i.e. weight loss, weight gain, or to maintain). The app also asks if you’re lifestyle is active or sedentary so that it can as accurately as possible, determine what your total caloric intake should be for the day. Everyone’s personal goals are different and what’s great about the app is that it tailors your macros to fit your needs as well as your lifestyle.
I’m still learning a great deal about Keto and the various ways others utilize it to help them on their own personal journey, but the one thing I know for certain is that the Keto Diet is a lifestyle and it isn’t a “one size fits all” kind of lifestyle. Yes, there are basic rules to go by, but everything else is pretty much through trial and error.
If you plan on starting the Keto Diet, whether you have any medical conditions or not, always consult with a professional such as your physician or even a nutritionist to see if this way of life is something that will work for you. Also, I highly recommend watching “The Magic Pill” on Netflix. It gives you a.lot of information as well as insight on the diet and how it can work for a variety of reasons, not just for weight loss.
If you’ve started Keto, what was your reason and how do you like it so far? Would you recommend it to others?
Thanks for reading and until next time!
Keto On!
-Kat
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