Keto Diet Benefits

Keto is everywhere; it's the new buzzword, a recent favorite among weight-loss seekers, and the new victim of hatred from the mainstream medical industry and its "eat-all-your-pimples" pyramid. The keto diet, while not a magic cure for each and every disease on planet earth, does a pretty good job of potentially curing many dire conditions. Let's build on science, separate fact from fiction, and discuss the benefits of the keto diet.

The keto diet has become extremely popular for its health benefits, such as weight loss and disease prevention. The keto diet can be tremendously beneficial, but how does it work to provide these benefits?

Benefit # 1: Weight Loss

Okay, this doesn't sound all that amazing, but it is one of the most common reasons people dare to go on the keto diet. But why is weight loss often so easy on the ketogenic diet, as opposed to other regular diets? For all of the following reasons:

• The keto diet is made up of about 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% or less carbohydrates. Its high fat content and lack of sugar results in a decrease in cravings, the lack of changes in the level of sugar in the blood and excesses, as well as an increase in satiety. Increased satiety = eating less. Many people also have some sensitivity to grains, even those without gluten, so their elimination can lead to a greater ability to absorb minerals, such as magnesium and potassium, which in turn means that your body is more nourished and that you have fewer cravings.

  

• Ketones. When your blood sugar is low, your body draws on glycogen stores for the energy it needs. Normally, glycogen stores around 2,000 calories of energy as a "reserve" for when you run out of glucose. Being the smart machine that it is, your body depletes glycogen stores and then turns to your own body fat for fuel.

IMPORTANT: The ketogenic diet is NOT an eat-what-you-want diet the kind that invites you to fill up on cheese or low carb bombs. If you are consuming more calories than you need, you will not lose weight. Focus on maintaining your diet including fatty cuts of grass-fed animal meat, butter, eggs, avocados, lots of green and cruciferous vegetables, and be mindful with keto desserts, dairy, and sweets.

Benefit # 2: Brain Function

A malfunctioning brain, as you may have experienced by now, leads to less efficient job performance, an unhappy boss, lack of job satisfaction, sugar cravings for energy, and even depression. It's a terrible domino effect. The original ketogenic diet, which was formulated by Dr. Russell Wilder in the early 1900s, was intended to treat epilepsy. The success rate was phenomenal and it is still used today to treat epilepsy and other brain disorders. Research also indicates that ketones represent a more efficient brain fuel than glucose. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5102124/)

Benefit # 3: Reducing the Risk of Chronic Diseases

A ketogenic diet can boost the body's defenses against a variety of conditions. By reducing inflammation and improving mitochondrial function, you can help lower your risk of developing various chronic conditions. Cancer cells often have abnormal mitochondria, which require an increased supply of glycogen. Ketosis allows normal cells to feed while cancer cells starve as they are unable to use ketones for energy due to their dysfunctional mitochondria.

Benefit # 4: Better Blood Pressure

High blood pressure greatly increases the risk of various diseases and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. A low-carbohydrate diet has been shown to be more effective than a low-fat diet in lowering blood pressure. In fact, some argue that it is as effective as taking pills. This, added to the weight loss resulting from a ketogenic diet, will undoubtedly greatly improve cardiovascular health and function.

It has been proven by numerous studies in the field of nutritional science that this way of dieting can have a very positive impact on your overall health and bodily functions. As long as you can find a way to maintain discipline, the rewards are generous. For those who have not been able to get good results with traditional methods, the keto approach is definitely something worth considering.