The ketogenic diet is based on ketosis, the process of burning fat for fuel that the human body goes through when there is not enough glucose available. If people consume lots of carbs, their bodies will use those as fuel first. However, when people cut back, they get what’s called the “carb flu.” This is the result of the body not having enough of its main supply of energy, but it’s also a sign that fat is being burned instead. During this process, the body produces ketones, which are also responsible for bad breath in those going on a keto diet. People’s bowel function will become much less predictable for the first few weeks of the keto diet. It is advised that people eat as much healthy fat as possible, as the body is burning fat primarily for energy. It remains to be seen if this diet is effective in the long-term, but the short term results seem promising.
Key Takeaways:
- When people cut down on carb intake, the body enters a state called Ketosis where it burns fat stores rather than carbohydrates for energy.
- A keto diet can cause some issues such as flu-like symptoms during the transition to ketosis, bad breath, and bowel struggles.
- It can be difficult to go without carbs, but it can be done long-term and people can lose weight by eating fat instead of carbs.
“Eight weeks of eating foods that are high in fat, low in carbohydrates and moderate amounts of protein.”