If you are on a mission to lose weight, the ketogenic diet or the keto diet is what most nutritionist will recommend these days, a diet that is low in carbohydrates.

How does a “Keto Diet” work?

The idea behind this diet is to deprive the body of carbohydrates so that it produces ketones. The body enters a metabolic pathway, whereby fats stored in the liver are broken down to produce ketone bodies. This process of ketone synthesis is known as Ketogenesis. Thus, in the absence of carbohydrates, the body’s energy requirements are met using the ketone bodies, a state referred to as Ketosis.

A person on a ketogenic diet should consume more of –

• Vegetables: Spinach, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, lettuce. Include green leafy and above the ground vegetables as they are low in carbohydrates
• Fruits and berries: Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, avocados. Consume raspberries and blackberries in limited quantity
• Walnuts, sunflower seeds, macadamia
• Coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oil, macadamia oil
• Fatty fish, coconut butter, cocoa butter, egg yolk, hard cheese (Cheddar, Feta, Parmesan), soft cheese (Mozzarella, Colby, Monterey Jack)
• Vegetable oil, if used, should be cold compressed
• Include more of saturated and monounsaturated fats into the diet

On a ketogenic diet, one should avoid –

• Fruits: Apples, oranges, bananas, mangoes
• Vegetables: Potatoes, tomato, eggplants, mushrooms, yams
• Blueberries
• Honey, maple syrup
• Cereals, wheat, corn, rice
• Avoid processed polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and trans fats

One needs to drink water at regular intervals of time to avoid dehydration.

Physical activities like exercise, jogging, morning walks are a must.

The ketogenic diet should be low in carbohydrates, moderate in proteins and contain high amounts of fats.

Benefits of a Ketogenic diet –

Low in carbohydrates, the ketogenic diet takes care of many ailments and medical conditions.

Weight management: The diet is a blessing for those who are struggling to get rid of the stubborn fats. Deprived of carbohydrates, particularly blood glucose, the fats (in the liver), are broken down to provide the body with ketones (an alternate source of fuel) so that the body can function normally. In doing so, it helps the body get rid of the unwanted fats.

The diet helps to maintain the insulin level.

A diet low in carbohydrates plays a pivotal role in controlling the blood sugar level.

The high-fat ketogenic diet helps to minimize the hunger pangs and food cravings, without compromising on the energy quotient.

A ketogenic diet goes a long way to treat epilepsy successfully.

In addition to being a fat burning fuel, ketones are also brain fuels. Thus, the diet helps to improve concentration and mental focus.

Carbohydrates can spell doom for your skin. A high-fat (ketone) diet reverses the damage, reducing the instances of acne, skin rashes, lesions and other skin problems drastically.

A keto diet brings about a significant increase in the good Cholesterol or HDL level while lowering the concentration of LDL (bad cholesterol) in the body.