What is it?

The keto diet forces your body into using a different type of fuel for energy. Instead of using glucose (sugar), which comes from carbohydrates (such as grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables), the keto diet relies on ketone bodies for energy (a type of energy that the liver produces from stored fat).

Burning fat might seem like a great way to lose weight but getting the liver to make ketone bodies is not easy. You need to deprive yourself of carbohydrates – usually fewer than 20-50 grams of carbohydrates a day (a medium sized banana has 27 grams of carbs).

The keto diet suggests reducing or eliminating the following foods:

Results

There is still NO EVIDENCE to show that eating a keto diet long term will keep the weight off.

Despite people eating low carb, high protein and/or high fat diets for years, people are still gaining weight. 

Bigger picture – Keto has a large number of nutritional risks associated with it. Think about how realistic this way of eating is going to be long term. Like forever. Really?! Remember, there are NO long-term studies that can show that Keto is beneficial for your health, or that it will keep the weight off long term. Recent scientific studies show that there is NO difference in terms of weight loss benefits between low fat or low carb diets. Remember, weight loss is never a quick fix – and that’s the problem. Everyone wants a new ‘diet’ or fast answer. There isn’t one.

Last point – how long did it take to get to your current weight? I bet it wasn’t overnight…

We hope you will really think about this blog. If you are not achieving your health goals, we invite you to consider joining us in our global ambition to reduce obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

Michelle @ The Food Cruncher.

The Science:

Harvard Health Publishing. Harvard Medical School. Should you try the keto diet? (2018).

 

Johnston BC, Kanters S, Bandayrel K, Wu P, Naji F, Siemieniuk RA et al. Comparison of Weight Loss Among Named Diet Programs in Overweight and Obese Adults. A Meta-analysis. 2014. JAMA. 312(9):923-933. Doi:10.1001/jama.2014.10397.

Astrup A, Larsen TM, Harper A. Atkins and other low-carbohydrate diets: hoax or an effective tool for weight loss? 2004. Lancet. 364:897-99.

 

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