People are becoming very interested in the ketogenic diet usually referred to as just keto. There was a special segment on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, June 7, 2017. The diet was explained along with suggestions of foods to eat. Co-host Amy Robach admitted she has been trying it. The diet is becoming more and more popular especially since celebrities and athletes are claiming that it really works. People such as Kim Kardashian, Adriana Lima, LeBron James and Tim Tebow reportedly are following this diet.
Keto diet: how does it work?
The ketogenic diet is nothing new. It has been around since the 1920s. It is designed to get a person's body in a ketosis state, where it begins to burn fat for fuel when it is low on carbohydrates.
Experts say the key to the Keto Diet is to eat about 20 percent of calories from protein, in addition to eating lots of fat. Followers suggest that the amount of fat should be at least 70 percent of their diet. Maya Feller, a New York registered dietitian nutritionist told ABC News that the keto diet will definitely result in weight loss for those who follow it. Feller says the amount of fat a person consumes in one day could be more than five times the daily recommendation.
The thing to remember about the ketogenic diet is that it is based on fats instead of carbohydrates, which should be the main energy source for the body, especially the brain.
Safety of the diet
There were several testimonies about the success of the diet, but doctors warn that the diet is not safe for long periods of time. Some people have described it as the Atkins diet on steroids.
That's because the main foods are high in fat and protein and low in carbohydrates that the body craves and needs. Even so, people who are on the diet say they are definitely losing weight without feeling hungry. Besides, it increases their strength and gives them plenty of energy.
One woman admitted that she lost 17 pounds in four weeks by following the keto diet.
Samantha Kafedzic, 31, says not only did she lose weight but she feels better with so much more energy.
Warnings
The diet should not be followed for an extended period of time. Those who have been on the diet for a long time have reported muscle loss. Also, the brain is affected because a person's brain cannot use fat directly for energy like the rest of the body can. Doctors say the body prefers carbohydrates for fuel, but the keto diet forces the body to burn fats instead. While this diet is safe for short-term use, the body is not recommended to stay in ketosis for an extended period of time.
