You've heard of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets like the Atkins diet and paleo diet. A strict version of those diets has also gained popularity, simply called the ketogenic or keto diet.
These ketogenic diets are occasionally popular because they allow people to lose weight quickly, but do you know what, exactly, they do in your body to trigger weight loss?
In a standard carb-loaded American diet, the body burns glucose from carbohydrates as an energy source in a process called glycosis. But when you limit your carbs and increase your fat intake, your body moves into a metabolic state of "ketosis," meaning that it's burning fat stored in your body instead of glucose, according to WebMD. Ketosis also drastically reduces blood sugar and insulin resistance.
As Dr. Eric Westman, director of the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic at Duke University, told Time magazine, "You determine what your body burns for fuel based on what you feed it."
Possible medical benefits
A ketogenic diet has been used for almost 100 years to treat pediatric epilepsy, Scientific American reports, because a ketogenic diet mimics fasting, which has long been known to have a therapeutic effect on seizures. Similar to a state of ketosis, the body also burns fat for energy during fasts. Usually, a pediatric ketogenic diet starts with 24 hours of fasting in a hospital setting, where doctors can monitor frequency of seizures, medication, and help educate the parents on the ins and outs of the diet.
Because of these neuroprotective benefits, researchers have questioned whether a ketogenic diet may also be beneficial for other brain disorders such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, sleep disorders, autism and brain cancer, reports Harvard Health. So far, there are no human studies that support recommending ketogenic diets as part of treatment for those conditions.
A recent study published in Science Immunology suggests that the keto diet can protect mice from influenza infections. However, experts who reviewed the research cautioned that although the results are interesting, they may not easily transfer to humans.
Types of ketogenic diets
Not all ketogenic diets are the same. They all encourage followers to limit carbohydrates, including breads, sweets, sugary drinks, legumes, fruits and potatoes. Instead, the diets are rich in meats, eggs, cheese, fish, nuts, butter, oils, seeds and fibrous vegetables.
The Atkins diet gradually increases carbs over time, going from 20-25 net carbs per day to 80-100 net carbs per day in four phases. The keto diet, however, puts strict limits on both carbs and protein.
As The New York Times points out, there have been many studies of the keto diet over the years, but most have been short and limited in scope.
"Some doctors and health experts say it can lead to quick weight loss but that it is no more effective than other diets in the long term. And many say they find it worrisome because it encourages foods high in saturated fat, which have been linked to heart disease, while restricting nutrient-rich foods supported by decades of research, like beans, fruits, starchy vegetables and whole grains," NYT health report Anahad O’Connor writes.
In addition, a recent essay published by several doctors in JAMA Internal Medicine questioned using the diet as a treatment for obesity and diabetes. They referenced research that suggests the keto diet was no better than low-fat diets in controlling blood sugar for diabetes. The diet could prompt other concerns, including an increase in cholesterol, as well as constipation and fatigue.
Starting a ketogenic diet
Following a ketogenic diet can be difficult, because in order to start it, you have to go off carbohydrates almost entirely.
So what exactly can you eat on a ketogenic diet? Some options are below:
Meat: Beef, goat, lamb, turkey, pork, veal, chicken.
Fish: Salmon, trout, catfish, sardines, tuna, haddock
Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, avocado
Vegetables: Broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, peppers
Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, etc.
Dairy products: Cheese, Greek yogurt, sour cream, heavy cream.
Fats and oils: Peanut butter, flaxseed oil, butter, sesame oil, olive oil and almond oil
If you want try a ketogenic diet, do it only under the care of a doctor or nutritionist to make sure you're getting adequate nutrition. The diet cuts out whole grains, legumes and many fruits, and may expose you to too many fats.
"Instead of engaging in the next popular diet that would last only a few weeks to months (for most people that includes a ketogenic diet), try to embrace change that is sustainable over the long term," writes Marcelo Campos, M.D. for Harvard Health. "A balanced, unprocessed diet, rich in very colorful fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, whole grains, nuts, seeds, olive oil, and lots of water seems to have the best evidence for a long, healthier, vibrant life.
