Some of our favorite diets are low carb diets. These diets are rich in proteins and fats. Carbohydrate consumption is almost entirely cut out of the diet. If your diet contains just a very few carbs your body converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. Those will be used as energy source. That means your body uses fat instead of carbohydrates to fuel itself. In this low carb diet you cut out starchy fruits and vegetables, pasta, grains, bread and sugar. The amount of fat such as butter and cream will be raised.
Benefits of a Ketogenic Diets
A ketogenic diet can benefit anyone who is looking to lose weight. Another perk of being on a ketogenic diet is that is can help to treat people who suffer from epileptic episodes by lowering their carbohydrate intake. Also, this type of diet is common for body builders to use when they need to burn as much fat as possible without losing their muscle mass.
In 2003, a study found out that “low carb diets” are as effective as diets low in fat.
What To Look Out For in a Ketogenic Diet
This diet has become popularized because of successful weight loss and how it is portrayed in the media. Nevertheless, it is always recommended that you visit a nutritionist to see if this diet is healthy and right for you since it is not always suitable for every dieter. The body needs a certain level of carbohydrates. The kidney and the liver are the two organs that are most affected when cutting out carbs from your diet.
Common Side Effects of a Ketogenic Diet
One common side effect of going on a ketogenic diet is becoming lethargic for a few weeks. Since the body has been accustomed to burning off glucose, without the consumption of carbohydrates the body feels run down and strained as it switches to a ketosis state. After about a month or so the body will recuperate its energy and begin to run off of ketones which will help you to burn more fat.