A quick introduction to a ketogenic diet
The ketogenic diet is a diet that’s high in fat, low in carbohydrates and moderate in protein. It’s become very popular over the last few years. But what does it do for your body?
Let me tell you: there are many benefits to going keto!
I’ve been living a ketogenic lifestyle (I hate calling it a ‘diet’ as it’s my way of life now) for many years. You just need to get through the initial bout of ‘keto flu’! This is when your body transitions from using carbs as a source of energy – to fat. What is keto flu? Well, it isn’t pleasant or quick! It lasts a few days, you will have a stonking headache that you won’t be able to shift with aspirin or keeping hydrated. You’ll feel lethargic and grumpy… However all this soon passes and then you’ll feel better and better by the day after that!
You’ll never be hungry
The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that was first developed in 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy. It has been used to treat other medical conditions since then, but it also produces many other benefits including weight loss and increased energy levels. Your body will use fat rather than glucose (sugar) for energy. This helps prevent cravings, sugar crashes and hunger pangs so that you can easily stick to this lifestyle over the long term! You just need a little bit of will power!
You’ll feel fuller longer too. Studies show that people who switch from a standard diet to one rich in healthy fats like olive oil or avocados tend to eat less overall because they don’t need as much food at each meal. However, you still feel just as full afterwards! Some examples of keto-safe, high-satiety foods that achieve this are:
Asparagus
Shellfish (though, bar crab, I ain’t a fan!)
Spinach
Broccoli
Eggs
Pork
Plain Greek yogurt
Green beans
Fish
Steak
Tomatoes
Cottage cheese
When we eat something high-fat like avocado instead of bread / rice etc, our bodies get signals from its own sensors telling us how much energy we’ve taken from our bodies’ storage tanks (insulin levels rise).
You’ll feel an energy boost
In addition to the energy boost you’ll get from a ketogenic diet, you’ll also be able to feel an increased sense of mental clarity. This is because your brain uses ketones as its main source of energy. This helps to keep it sharp and focused. Remember to drink plenty of water as the headaches can be brutal!
Ketone bodies are produced when fat is broken down in the liver, which means that they’re cleaner than glucose (the body’s primary fuel). As such, when you eat less carbohydrates and more fat —the two primary ingredients in a high-fat diet — your brain can use these instead as its main source of fuel.
This means that when you combine this with other benefits like increased focus and better cognitive function associated with being on a low-carbohydrate diet like keto (like having more mental focus), it makes sense why many people who have tried it report feeling energised after only a couple of days!
As an active gym-goer, lifting weights and HIIT workouts plus running, cycling and trig bagging, the ketogenic diet really works for me.
You’ll lose weight with a ketogenic diet
Losing weight is one of the most common reasons people choose to eat a ketogenic diet. It’s easy to see why! When you consume fewer carbohydrates and more fat, your body will naturally turn to burning fat for fuel. This can lead to rapid and significant weight loss in as little as two weeks. That’s not even counting exercise or a controlled calorie deficit!
It’s also a good metabolism booster
You may have heard that ketogenic diets are a great way to lose weight. But did you know they can help you burn more fat and lose even more body fat? Ketogenic diets have been shown to increase metabolism. This means your body burns more calories than it would if on a traditional diet.
This is because the fatty acids in fatty fish, like salmon and sardines, cause the liver to produce ketone bodies (the same molecules used by the brain). These then give off energy when digested by muscles. This means that when eating fatty foods like these two types of fish or avocados instead of carbs from carbohydrates like white breads or pastas (which turn into sugar) then those meals will actually help boost your metabolism instead of slowing down its rate at all!
Your skin will glow!
You’ll also notice a huge improvement in your skin. The keto diet has been shown to improve conditions such as acne, as well as reduce inflammation in the body. It can also help clear up other skin problems like eczema and psoriasis.
It’s not just about looking good! Ketogenic diets have been shown to improve hair growth! Certain foods that contain carbohydrates (like bread) stimulate insulin production. This causes our bodies to release more testosterone into our bloodstreams, which makes us look older than we actually are. I often get told I don’t look 40 – so I’m a walking example! By avoiding these foods while on the keto diet you will avoid this effect and look younger with longer, thicker locks of hair. Check out my deadlocks for instance!
Your overall health will benefit!
The ketogenic diet has been linked to a variety of health benefits, from improved brain function to weight loss. It’s also a great way to lower your risk of cancer and other diseases.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan that forces the body into what’s called “ketosis.” When your body goes into ketosis, it naturally produces energy through fatty acids rather than glucose (sugar). As you may know already, fat provides an easy source of fuel for the brain and heart. It can also help protect against inflammation in these areas as well!
There are many benefits of a ketogenic diet
In a nutshell, the ketogenic diet (also known as ‘keto’) are high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb diets. They’re great for weight loss and overall health. The main goal of a keto diet is to induce your body into entering “ketosis” where it uses fat rather than carbs as its primary energy source instead of glucose or sugary carbs. This means that all you need to eat on this diet is healthy fats like olive oil or avocados instead of refined oils like vegetable oil which contain trans fat in them. When you go low carb / high fat meals will help boost metabolism so they can burn more calories per day than normal eating habits would allow them too.
Conclusion
Keto is a lifestyle change that will benefit your body and mind in many ways. If you’re looking for an easy way to lose weight, give it a try! Just remember, if you need an alcoholic fix, spirits are you go to weapon of choice. I do like a sambucca!
Just to disclaim, this blog is purely informational – based on my own personal research and experience. Always seek proper medical advice but if you have any questions, give me a shout and I’ll do my best to answer them. Leave a comment or DM me over on Instagram!
