Nutrition

5 Ketogenic Diet Benefits

Ketogenic diet benefits

The ketogenic diet is one of the most popular diets these last few years.

It is a low-carb diet, based on a big intake of fats, an average intake of proteins and a very restrictive intake of carbohydrates.

What is a ketogenic diet?

While being on a High-Fat Low-Carb diet regime your body will reach ketosis.

Ketosis is a metabolism state in which your body produces ketones.

Ketones serve as an alternative food for your brain, muscles, and other organs.

This leads to an intensive fat burning and losing weight quickly.

If you want to know more about this diet you should read our Ketogenic Diet Ultimate Guide.

Now, we’ll see what are the main ketogenic diet benefits:

1. Weight Loss

Of course, the first and main benefit of the keto diet is losing weight.

The ketogenic diet can be very effective in your weight loss battle.

This diet is named after ketosis – a state your body reaches after eating high-fat low-carb foods for a while.

While in ketosis, your body produces ketones.

Ketones are fat molecules which your liver produces.

Glucose is the main source of energy in a regular diet, in the keto diet due to the small intake of carbs the main source are ketones.

So, your body burns ketones (fat) and helps you get rid of those extra pounds that worry you.

Can this diet really help you lose weight?

Yes, it can.

But that is not going to be easy.

If you have a sweet tooth you should know that sweets are off the list- only 5% of carbs per day is allowed. And this 5% involve everything from sweets to pasta, bread, sodas, and fruit.

Because of the restricted carb intake, you can feel some side effects at the beginning of this diet regime.

The most common is the keto flu – you may have a lack of energy, insomnia, nausea and increased hunger.

Also, you might disrupt the concentration of electrolytes, so it’s advisable to drink more water and eat more salt in the beginning.

You might suffer from constipation and discomfort in your stomach, too so, you should take probiotics.

But don’t worry – these symptoms usually go away after a few days.

So, although there are some disadvantages of ketogenic diet, you can definitely lose weight but prepare for a completely new nutritional regime, and for its ups and downs.

2. It can protect your heart

The ketogenic diet can lower the level of the bad cholesterol, prevent hypertension, blood sugar, obesity and body fat.

All these parameters are necessary for a healthy heart. (1)

3. The ketogenic diet may prevent cancer

Some studies show that the keto diet may prevent cancer. (2)

That is related to the fact that it is a low carb diet – cancer cells depend on glucose.

Taking into consideration the fact that in the keto diet your body starts using ketones and it doesn’t produce glucose anymore, this may imply that cancer cells can’t develop.

However, it’s necessary to do more research in order to prove this.

4. It may help with acne

Some studies show that the keto diet can improve acne.

Food high in carbs affects acne badly, and as mentioned before the keto is very low in carbs so it may help with skin problems.

Moreover, certain research shows that this type of diet may help with psoriasis, as well.

5. The ketogenic diet can help with Alzheimer

Other studies imply that the keto diet can improve the condition caused by Alzheimer. (3)

Also, it can help with epilepsy – it reduces seizures in children who suffer from epilepsy.

Note that these studies and research are far away from a conclusion.

 

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