What is ketosis?
“Ketosis” is a condition in which the body depends on “ketone bodies” rather than sugar for energy. This sounds difficult but it is very easy to do. That’s why it’s important to you. Your body has two sources of energy: fat and sugar (also called glucose).
The ketogenic diet plan (also known as ketosis or ketosis) is designed to help your body burn more fat than glucose for energy.
When your body breaks down fat, your liver produces ketones (or ketone bodies). High levels of ketones in your blood can cause you to enter a metabolic state called ketosis.
How exactly do ketones work?
The basis of the ketogenic diet plan is very simple:
Eat less carbohydrates or sugar
Eat more healthy fats.
Consume the right amount of protein.
In other words, you only eat “low glycemic index” foods. Low glycemic foods are foods that do not cause your blood sugar to rise too much. When you eat this way, your body begins to rely on fat instead of sugar for energy. When this happens, you experience a “metabolic shift,” a complex process in which your body is able to get energy from different sources again.
As a result, you feel more energetic, mentally clearer and lose weight.
7 Proven (But Controversial) Benefits of the Keto Diet
There are many studies on the keto diet. Some of the most exciting research is related to cancer and neurological diseases, but most people on the ketogenic diet plan to deal with more serious issues (weight, blood sugar, etc.).
Here is a short list of the benefits of the ketogenic diet plan:
Reduced hunger. Most diet plans rely on counting calories, restricting portions, or controlling energy. But all this can be difficult. Since the ketogenic diet changes your body’s metabolism, the most common result is that you become hungry and start eating less.
Lost. It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, but overall weight loss can be faster and easier with a ketogenic diet plan. This is especially true because the keto diet helps reduce hunger. But you need to be prepared because for most people, the biggest failure is not following the meal plan.
Healthy blood sugar. The results should be clear. If you have high blood sugar or are diabetic, there is a good, quick way to lower your blood sugar by eliminating excess sugar from your diet.
Reduces the risk of high cholesterol and triglycerides. Many doctors are beginning to think that high-fat diets may increase cholesterol and triglycerides. However, the opposite is true. Although most people see a decrease in LDL and triglycerides when following a ketogenic diet plan, some people see a difference.
Heart diseases. The ketogenic diet plan was originally developed to treat epilepsy and mental illness. In addition to epilepsy, though, some practitioners and researchers are using a keto meal plan to effectively treat other neurological disorders – particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
Certain Forms of Cancer. A lot of researchers are currently working on using a keto meal plan as a ‘complementary’ cancer treatment. And for certain forms of cancer – particularly brain cancer – the keto meal plan is showing a lot of benefit when used with other traditional treatments.
Possible Other Benefits. The science is inconclusive, but many studies have shown other benefits of the ketogenic diet, including treating acne, polycystic ovaries, respiratory issues, and more.