Why Is Keto Diet So Popular?

The simple answer to this question is that the KETO DIET WORK’S! Read on to understand how the Ketogenic paradigm has become an alternative lifestyle and a religion that millions of people swear by. But what actually is the keto diet?

Keto Diet – Summarized

Normally, we consume a lot of glycogen (carbs), and carbohydrates are our body’s favorite source of energy. Our body relies on carbs for our energy requirements. We eat a lot of fats too. As we keep taking a lot of carbs, our fats don’t get used and are rather accumulated. This accumulation of fats leads to weight gain and related chronic health issues like Diabetes Type 2, PCOD, and more. So the best and fast way to get rid of your fats is to burn them up. This can be done through a Keto diet.

A Ketogenic diet is low-carb, moderate protein, and a high-fat diet. A typical Ketogenic diet starves your body of carbohydrates by limiting the intake of carbs below 5%. This stimulates your body to go into a metabolic state called ketosis.

Ketosis is an induced metabolic state wherein your body actively uses fats as a primary energy source. Your body starts to burn those fats and help you lose those extra kilos. The most important aspect of a Keto diet is that your body should go into Ketosis.

Reasons Why Keto Diet Is So Popular

People are going crazy about the low-carb lifestyle. The ketogenic diet, in particular, is gaining a lot of popularity. But why exactly? The reasons are obvious. The ketogenic diet is helping millions of people get in shape in time other diets would take years. Weight loss is not the only issue that this fast-growing dietary lifestyle addresses, the reversal of the symptoms of various chronic weight-related issues like kidney problems, Diabetes, PCOS, and more. The ketogenic diet is a regime that increases your healthspan with skin and hair health adding to its benefits.

First off, the Keto Diet is not at all a new phenomenon. Human biology has evolved from the time of hunter-gatherers to optimize itself on a low carb regimen. There is a copious mention of CARB FASTING in Vedic literature and ancient scriptures. Till 10,000 years ago, humans had limited access to high carb foods and had limited means to store whatever carb-rich food they found. Carbs rich foods are the most easily perishable foods of all.

As a consequence, human biology has evolved to utilize fat as an energy source and protein as a source of repair and growth. Physiology has thus evolved two metabolic processes to power the body – Energy from carbs and energy from Fats (Ketosis). Partial ketosis i.e. powering the body through fats has predominantly been the most common state of the human body.

With the advent of the agricultural age, humans started cultivating high carb grains in high quantities. Technological advancements allowed the storage and consumption of these rich carb foods at will. 10,000 years which is a blink of an eye on an evolutionary scale, is a very small time for humans to evolve to process such high daily intake of carbs. All modern lifestyle health conditions trace back their root cause to excessive carb consumption in one form or the other.

The body has evolved to process fats much better than it can process carbs. This means that the Keto Diet (low carb, high healthy fat diet) is much more suited for maintaining health parameters.

The keto diet is getting more acceptance each passing day. Some of the benefits of aa ketogenic diet that add to its specialty are discussed in the next section.

Benefits Of A Keto Diet

#1 Weight loss 

Your Ketogenic diet primarily utilizes your body fat as an energy source – so there are obvious weight loss benefits. On a keto diet, you eat the kind of foods that help you stay full and thus, control your cravings. The keto diet also helps to reduce by helping boost metabolism

#2 Control Blood Sugar

Studies have shown that a ketogenic diet is a productive way to manage and prevent diabetes compared to low-calorie diets. A pre-diabetic or Type II diabetic should consider a ketogenic diet.

  #3 Enhanced Energy 

When you give your body a more constant energy source, you will feel more energized during the day. Fats are shown to be the most active molecule to burn as fuel.

#4 Control in Cholesterol & Blood Pressure

Many studies on low-carb diets also show better improvement in blood pressure over other diets.

You should eat the following foods to stay in ketosis and lose weight:

1. Restrict your Carb Intake (Refined Sugar, Maida, Junk Food, Colas, Juices all have high Carb content)

2. Increase your Healthy Fat Intake (Nuts, Seeds, etc. )

3. Moderation in Protein Intake (Full-profile protein intake in moderate quantities to prevent load on Kidneys)

4. Electrolyte Intake (for Minerals replenishment)

5. Calorie Deficit, which means that you need to take lesser calories.

Summary

The ketogenic diet is a recent trend among fitness lovers. The results people are getting with the keto diet are unbelievable. The effectiveness of a keto diet depends upon the way you follow a keto diet.

Remember, the keto diet is not just about cutting down your carbs. It will help you a great deal when you do it right in all the aspects. the protein and fat intake, on a keto diet, play a pivotal role in getting you in ketosis, thus the right shape.

The keto diet should be chosen based on various health parameters. The time you start a ketogenic diet, you should consider your health conditions, body type, health goals, and more.

Keto diet is not just another weight loss diet but a complete lifestyle. It has multiple effects on your health and can help you subside the symptoms of various chronic weight-related conditions.

Nonetheless, many people might experience symptoms when getting in ketosis for the very first time. These are not just symptoms but also the signs that you are in ketosis. These symptoms should go away with time and if they don’t you should consult your doctor for the same.