Myths and Facts About Keto
When it comes to diet trends, your options seem limitless, which may make it hard for you to figure out what eating plan is best for you. For weight loss, the keto diet is one of the most popular diet trends, according to Rush University Medical Center.
But you may not be so sure that the keto diet is right for you. At OnePeak Medical, our fitness and nutrition experts know when it comes to diet and weight loss, no single diet works for all. We create individualized nutrition and fitness plans using many types of diets, including the ketogenic diet.
We wanted to share some of the myths and facts surrounding the keto diet so you can make the most informed decision about whether it makes the best choice for you.
Myth: The keto diet is new
Fact: The keto diet, or ketogenic diet, has been used as a medical diet for more than 100 years.
Though it may be new to you, doctors initially designed the ketogenic diet to treat epilepsy, a condition that causes abnormal brain activity and seizures. Glucose is your brain’s preferred source of energy and comes from carbohydrate-rich foods. But for people with epilepsy, the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet was a form of brain starvation that helped decrease seizure activity.
When you restrict carbohydrate intake, your body and brain use ketones for energy in place of glucose. Ketones are made from the fat in your diet and the extra stores of fat from your body, which is why the keto diet is such a popular weight-loss plan.
Myth: You can eat as much fat as you want
Fact: Though there are many variations of the keto diet, it’s not a free-for-all.
One of the reasons so many people are drawn to the keto diet, and other low-carb weight-loss plans, is the promise that they can eat endless amounts of bacon and cheese. Though the keto diet offers many benefits when it comes to weight loss, it’s not wise to continue to eat more food (and saturated fat) than your body needs.
However, eating more calories than your body needs isn’t as much of a problem when following a ketogenic diet. One of the benefits of the high-fat, low-carb diet is that it suppresses your appetite and your cravings for unhealthy food, according to the Harvard T.H. Chang School of Public Health.
Myth: The keto diet is bad for my health
Fact: Research indicates that the keto diet offers many health benefits.
Despite helping you drop those unwanted pounds, the keto diet may also improve blood sugar control in people with diabetes and reduce the amount of diabetes medication they take. The keto diet may also reduce blood triglyceride levels.
There’s also some evidence that the keto diet may help lower cholesterol levels. However, results have been mixed, and more research is needed to better understand the effects of the keto diet on blood cholesterol levels.
Myth: The keto diet is hard to follow
Fact: Any diet is hard to follow if it requires you to change well-established eating habits.
Many people view a diet as a short-term fix to their weight problem. But when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off, you need to change your mindset.
Diet is one of the many tools we use to help you reach your weight goals. When we decide the ketogenic diet is the best plan for you, we work one on one with you to design a nutrition plan that fits your lifestyle and goals. In addition to your eating plan, we may also include prescription weight-loss medications, nutritional supplements to control appetite, and a personal fitness program. More importantly, you need a support system that helps you make the behavioral and lifestyle changes that lead to long-term weight-loss success. If you’re ready to drop those unwanted pounds forever, we’re ready to help. Contact us today to book your initial consult.