KETOGENIC
Ketogenic Diet…
This is something I have been asked about a lot. If you’re not sure what the ketogenic diet is let me give you a little overview before I explain my thoughts on the “diet”.
It is based around Ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state that the body can naturally turn to for energy. This occurs when the body is metabolizing fat and this fat is converting to ketones. When the body doesn’t receive enough of its main source of energy (carbohydrates) from food it will look for fat instead. Part of this process is making ketones.
If you’re healthy and eating a balanced diet, your body can control how much fat it burns therefore; won’t need to make or use ketones.
The ketogenic diet puts your body into a state of only looking for fat stores by removing all carbohydrates (its main sources of energy), increasing fat intake and consuming an adequate protein intake.
Fast forward with no more science…….
The basis of the ketogenic diet is true; putting your body into ketosis will use fat for energy. But the studies that show keto as a success compared to what the keto “rules” tell you to consume are very contradicting.
I was reading a paper today that said “over 20 studies now support the keto diet”. 20.. really, that’s not many! All of these papers supported a high fat diet. What they don’t mention is that the studies (that were not completed just for the purpose of keto) all support a diet consuming more unsaturated fats such as; omega 3 fatty acids like avocado, nuts, eggs and oily fish. They state “Saturated fats don’t clog the arteries” but then use studies such as the Mediteranean diet as support, the Mediteranian diet is all unsaturated fats; MISLEADING at its best.
When you go keto, people think you can have all fats and the rules don’t say you cant, but the science says you cant.
In order to follow this high maintenance diet, you must cut carbs and by cut carbs I mean you cant even eat a carrot. The rule is; nothing that grows under the ground, what a silly rule. Another “rule” is you must take supplements, as you don’t consume a lot of vitamins that you would in a normal diet. Your poor little gut will be missing out on some serious fibre intake and we all know an unhealthy gut can lead to an unhealthy mind. You’ll be backed up and needing to go to the doctor for extra cholesterol checks along with hormones!
If you’ve gotten this far through this post, you probably know I’m not a fan of the keto. I can’t find enough scientific evidence to support a diet that cuts out a whole food group. I do believe consuming healthy fats is important, but remembering to have unsaturated fats like avocado, nuts, seeds and oily fish along with your proteins and carbs. Overall, I wouldn’t recommend this diet. Diets are unsustainable and restrictive which has been proven to lead to worse eating habits. The only time something along these lines could be considered is if you’re a type two diabetic.
I would advise you to see a doctor or dietitian if you are a diabetic wishing to try this.
