The Keto Diet is a popular diet that has made its way into the fitness industry. However, before dividing deeper into the keto diet, it is important to understand that there is no such perfect diet. Every individual has their own preferences and ultimately, weight loss and weight gain comes down to calorie deficit and calorie surplus, respectively.
What is the keto diet?
This is a diet where carbs are completely cut out. The only form of carbohydrates the body receives is from fat-heavy and protein-heavy foods.
In this diet, the focus is to provide the body with 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbs.
How does the diet work?
First, let’s understand how the body generates energy from food. Ideally, the body needs three macronutrients – fat, protein, and carbohydrates. The body breaks down these nutrients to generate energy, especially from the glucose it receives from carbohydrates.
However, with keto, the body does not get glucose from carbohydrates to generate energy. As a result, it burns the stored fat to generate the required energy. Essentially, the idea is to push the body to burn stored fats. Once this level is achieved, it’s said that the body is in a metabolic state known as ketosis.
Benefits of a keto diet
The reason this diet is suggested is because it works and helps to burn excess stored fat for fuel. Apart from that, there are other benefits of following this diet.
Curbs your appetite
One tends to eat more when you have the appetite for it. However, when you follow a low-carb-diet, your appetite gets curbed. This results in a controlled eating habit, which ultimately helps in weight loss.
Improves blood sugar and insulin levels
A low-carb diet is potentially useful for individuals suffering from diabetes or with insulin resistance. A low-carb diet helps in moderating the levels, which lowers blood sugar and insulin levels significantly.
Can accelerate initial weight loss
With a keto diet, stored fat gets burned for fuel, which in itself is a form of weight loss. Additionally, a low-carb diet will initially accelerate the weight loss process when the primary source of energy shifts from using glucose to using stored fat.