The keto diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, is trending of late, making people follow it to lose weight. Keto diet promises rapid weight loss without exercise.
In most cases, the keto diet does work. However, Angela Sowers, the Director of Nutritional Services of Tennova Healthcare – Harton says, “What people are doing to their bodies when they participate in the keto diet is damaging and could become detrimental to their overall health.”
The basics of the keto diet are reducing carbs or cutting down to an extremely low level, increasing the amount of protein and fat, and avoiding the dairy foods completely. The outcome is significant and rapid weight loss without even hitting the gym.
Sowers said, “The keto diet was created in the 1930s for patients that suffered from epilepsy and seizures.” “The diet cuts carbs. The brain uses carbs to function. The diet worked for patients with epilepsy and seizures because it was eliminating the main power source of the brain. The diet isn’t meant for weight loss.”
She warns that the keto diet cuts carbohydrates to a potentially dangerously low level, which can greatly interfere with the brain functionality, making you dizzy, lethargic, and even confused.
Carbs are a great source of energy that your brain needs to function optimally on a daily basis. And cutting carbs to an extremely low level could have detrimental effects on your nervous system, including the brain. Reducing the brain’s energy source could ultimately result in dizziness, fatigue, confusion, GI upset, and even hypoglycemia in people with diabetes.
Sowers explained, “People sometimes don’t research diets before they begin.” “They often think that carbs are really bad for you. That’s not true. Carbs are used by the body to produce energy. Carbs in moderation is what works, not cutting them out completely.”
She also warns that the long-term positive effects of keto diet have not been studied evidently. Therefore, following the keto diet for a longer period could increase the risk of neurological disorder as well as digestive disorders.
Another basis of the ketogenic diet is it suggests increasing the fat intake; the fat becomes the source of energy, allowing the body to burn fat. However, when your body starts burning fat, it also starts burning your muscle tissue. Plus, people following the keto diet, who have a risk of stroke or heart attack, the fat can put them at risk.
Sowers says, “I do not recommend the keto diet,” “There are much healthier ways to lose weight that won’t cause other problems in the long run.”
She stressed that people who follow the keto diet are more likely to regain the weight that they lost. She explained that fat takes a great amount of time to burn off during exercise, and it can cause digestive disorders.
She further says, “Moderation is key.” “There are now Tupperware containers that help with portion sizes. There are apps that help with keeping up with exercise and calorie intake. Portion control paired with exercise will yield the healthiest results and help you keep the weight off.”
Sowers explains that proper nutrition is 75 percent of the weight loss and exercising for at least 30 minutes to one hour three to five times a week can help with weight loss.
She said, “You can spend two hours in the gym but ruin it with a bad meal.” “Incorporating all the food groups in proportioned sizes throughout the day is the best way to not only lose weight, but to also control appetite. Restaurants are also making it easier to eat healthier with calorie counts on the menu. Now people are able to make mindful choices when they go out to eat.”
Carbohydrates offer energy to your brain, and when combined with exercise, they are quite beneficial in providing what your body needs to replenish.
