All about Keto-Diet – Positives and Negatives!

A very popular diet nowadays is the keto-diet, for its reputation to burn fat and its acceptability, especially amongst the working professionals, good-health maintainers, and athletes. 

So what is a ketogenic diet? 

A ketogenic diet is low in carbohydrates, rich in fat, and bears resemblance with Atkins and low-carb diets.

Thus ketosis is a metabolic state reached by the body due to the absence of enough carbohydrates whereby the body produces ketones to supply energy, unlike glucose. 

Some advantages of following keto-diet: 

Weight reduction, developing good cholesterol, treatment of type 2 diabetes, epilepsy, and growth of cancerous cells are some fruitful effects fetched in by ketosis. 

Moreover, maintaining a keto-diet also gives shiny and healthy-looking skin due to its high oil content as stated by dermatologists. 

Even keto-diet is helpful in the treatment of PCOS in humans as studies suggest.

Keto-diet Some old facts still in present use: 

In the year 1967 Still man & Baker authored a book 'The Doctor's Quick Weight loss Diet', which naturally is a carbohydrate-restricted diet rich in high proteins were no fat or oil is permitted and strictly ordered to intake 7-8 glasses of water by the dieters and small but frequent meals are recommended instead of large less frequent ones. 

After about 5 years, Dr. Robert Atkins claimed that one may lose weight by intake of high protein and fat-rich foods as long as high carbohydrate foods are avoided. Many people follow it even today. 

Protein Powder as claimed by Eades and Eades in 1936 is a popular nutritional supplement low in carbohydrates that help in losing weight and lowering cholesterol levels. Apart from the above it has certain other benefits like anti-cancer properties, improves child asthma levels, etc. 

Thus a ketogenic diet proves to be of immense usefulness in more weight loss, increasing 'good' HDL cholesterol levels, reducing blood sugar, and maintaining steady blood pressure levels. 

Some other good effects of a ketogenic diet:

Though low-carb or ketogenic diets usefulness has been controversial since ages scientific studies show that there are advantages in many aspects. 

Certain brain disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases have shown a good response by following a ketogenic diet.

Low-carb diets have therapeutic effects of epilepsy in children where drug responses have failed. Metabolic syndrome including abnormal obesity, high blood pressure, high sugar, triglycerides, and low good 'good' HDL cholesterol levels are effectively treated by ketogenic diets as shown by studies.

Keto-diet With boon to a curse:

A diet should be such as to meet the body's nutritional requirements and hence a diet not to suit everyone. At times keto-diet may result in kidney stones, constipation, and harmful for heart health. Following a keto-diet can lower blood triglyceride levels that are fats which may increase heart-attack risks. Even at times, keto-diet can enhance bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the body. 

According to dietician Rachel Klein man, a keto diet may cause 'keto flu' with certain disorders like dizziness, nausea, mood swing, etc. 

Wellness dietician Mary Condon concluded that following a keto-diet is sometimes not suitable and hence may cause more bad than good.

A keto diet should not be recommended to patients since it restricts the intake of fresh vegetables and fruits that may result in deteriorated overall health. 

Another drawback of the keto diet is that it does not necessarily improve athletic performance and is not recommended for sportsperson since it may cause harm to their immune system.

Keto-diet Overall conclusion:

According to a lot of people, keto-diet is a good remedy to lose weight but it has many ill-effects associated with it too. Also, it is very tough to follow keto-diet regularly. A keto-diet is not at all suitable for patients suffering from chronic diseases as demonstrated by some studies and experimental evidence. 

So to put into a nutshell people should follow a balanced diet preferably a diet of low in sugar and fats, but rich in proteins and fibers, with just enough amounts of carbohydrates to meet the body's nutritional requirements.