WHAT IS THE KETO DIET?

By now, you’ve seen the hype… the keto diet has taken the internet by storm as an

answer to not only weight loss, but basically — well, everything. I’ve been drinking the keto kool-aid too, primarily because I’ve seen EPIC results in many of my clients when we integrate a ketogenic approach to nutrition and lifestyle. But if you’re new to keto you probably have a lot of questions, such as:

What is the keto diet? Where did it come from? Is it right for you?

I admit that I’ve become a little bit of a keto fanatic in the last few years. Few diets have ever been backed with the broad amount of science and testimonials keto boasts. Not only does it work for weight loss, the process of ketosis can have major impact on several diseases and in general it can promote health and wellbeing to optimal levels.

Basically, you need to know what this diet can do. There’s a lot to learn, but that’s where I can give you some great news!

This is the last article (and perhaps the first keto diet guide) you’ll need to read about what the keto diet is. I’ll tell you where it came from, what to eat (and what to avoid), what keto can do and even give you some tips for when it gets hard. If you're a beginner, you’ll be able to figure everything out, or even broaden your knowledge if you’ve been on keto for awhile.

But first: what exactly is the keto diet?

THE KETO DIET EXPLAINED

In very simple terms, the keto diet involves filling your diet with 70-80 percent healthy fats, about 15-20 percent protein and 5-10 percent carbohydrates.

Keto’s not just a low-carb diet like Atkins; it’s a high-fat, low-carb diet. The magic is all in the healthy fats!

In 1-7 days after eating these levels of macronutrients, people will transition into a state called “ketosis.” In ketosis, your body stops pulling its energy from glucose and begins producing ketones to use instead. While in ketosis, your body is in a fat-burning state.

Some of the best parts about keto are that, for one, you don’t have to count calories! It’s all about the macros.

Not sure what a macro is?

Macros are the macronutrients in your food: namely fat, protein and carbs. Keep your macros in line with keto standards and your daily calorie intake doesn’t have to be a main priority.

My clients are always relieved to hear that they don’t have to count calories on keto (or really any program that I recommend). I’m not suggesting you start eating 4000-5000 calories each day, but if you’re tired of cutting calories and feeling hungry all the time, keto may be worth a shot.

Another thing you’ll love about the keto diet is that it’s full of foods you probably used to think were unhealthy (or at least too calorie-heavy), like beef, olive oil or full-fat cheeses.

The trickiest part about staying in ketosis is that you have to be really cautious when you “cheat.”

I’ll get into the details of that later on in this keto diet guide, but for now, just know that a flex or cheat day on keto can undo a lot of work if you don’t do it right. Until you’re fat-adapted (also called keto-adapted), your body can take even one major dose of carbs as a cue to quit giving you the ketones you need.

THE HISTORY OF THE KETO DIET

The keto diet started becoming more well-known recently because keto diet weight loss happens somewhat quickly. However, the roots of keto span a lot further back.

Doctors started using keto to treat refractory epilepsy in children back in the 1920s (1).

Refractory epilepsy means that kids on medication are still having regular seizures. In the short- and medium-term, ketosis can significantly reduce or even eliminate these seizures — even when medication can’t (2).

In the early 2000s, doctors and informed families made the keto diet so popular, again with epileptic kids and then in the mainstream. Throughout the history of the keto diet, it’s been apparent that most people (adults or kids) will lose stubborn weight not long after transitioning into ketosis.

Scientists have also discovered that the keto diet has benefits that go far beyond epilepsy and even weight loss.

https://elevays.com/keto/