If you’re someone who stays on top of the latest health and nutrition news, you’re likely aware of the hottest new diet crazes. If so, you’ve probably heard of the Ketogenic Diet, or “Keto” for short. We have patients that keep asking our Chiropractor in West Vancouver if the Keto Diet is a good diet to follow. Well here are some facts and information about it.
In recent years, the keto diet has become a prominent option for many, and for a good reason. As many diets do, the keto diet also claims to provide lasting results and health benefits. Unlike most diets, however, many of the health claims made by those that believe in the keto diet happen to be backed by real science!
In large part, the ketogenic diet has become the latest and greatest diet because of the robust evidence behind weight loss and fat loss. The great news is that the results are actual. Even better, while weight loss is undoubtedly an incredible benefit of the keto diet, it also provides numerous other benefits as well.
Now, the question remains: Is the keto diet good for YOU?! The answer may not be so clear. As many answers go when it comes to health and nutrition, it depends.
First thing first, you need to do a deeper analysis of your health status, goals, and whether or not the keto diet is a diet that you can sustain for the long term. Why is sustainability so important when it comes to dietary choices? Simple. The best diet for you is the diet that you’re going to follow, that you’re going to enjoy, and that you’re going to stick to.
What is the Keto Diet?
So, what is the keto diet in the first place?
In the simplest of explanations, the keto diet consists of extreme carbohydrate restriction, moderate protein intake, and high-fat consumption. To take a look at a typical keto macronutrient profile, a ketogenic diet may look a little something like this:
- Fats: 75%+ of your total dietary intake
- Protein: 15-20% of your total dietary intake
- Carbs: Less than 5%, to no more than 10% of your total dietary intake
The ketogenic diet is not just your run-of-the-mill low-carb diet. Instead, it’s an extreme diet that seeks to put your body in a state of ketosis, a metabolic phenomenon that results in your body using fat stores for energy rather than carbohydrate (glucose) stores.
With that being said, if your goals are to lose weight and reduce fat, the results from the keto diet are undeniable. In contrast, if your plans don’t align with weight loss, the keto diet may or may not be for you. Let’s dig a little deeper!
The Benefits of Keto
As mentioned above, while the keto diet is known for its drastic weight loss benefits, it offers a whole host of other benefits that must be discussed before deciding whether or not the keto diet is a good diet for YOU. Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver would undoubtedly suggest that the benefits listed below help with your musculoskeletal health and general wellness.
In short, the keto diet provides the following benefits, among others:
- Weight Loss & Fat Loss
- Boosted Energy Levels
- Mental Acuity & Clarity
- Improved Cognition
- Improved Health Markers
- Reduction in Health Risk Factors
- Improved Skin Complexion
- Anti Inflammatory Benefits
How does that list sound? Pretty incredible, right?!
Now that you’ve been educated on what the ketogenic diet is, how ketosis works, and the vast benefits of such a diet, it’s now time to decide whether or not this diet is a suitable dietary approach for you. Again, while the benefits are vast, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a good or “healthy” diet for everyone.
Is Keto Right For You?
While the benefits of the keto diet may be enticing, it doesn’t mean you should jump right into it. You also need to consider potential allergies, foods you love to eat and can’t live without, foods you hate and refuse to eat, health and fitness goals, budget and affordability, enjoyment, and more.
If you DO decide to partake in the ketogenic diet, the following are the most popular foods that you can expect to consume daily. In contrast, the following are the foods after that are foods that you can no longer consume if you go down the keto path.
Keto Go-Tos:
- Meat
- Nuts/Seeds
- Low-carb Veggies
- Eggs
- Avocados
- Oils
- Dark Chocolate
Keto Don’ts:
- Rice
- Sugar
- Oats
- Potatoes
- Most Fruit
- Cereals & Bars
Based on this short-list of do’s and don’ts, it’s now up to you to decide whether or not it’s something you could sustain, and more importantly, enjoy!
In Summary
As you can probably tell from this article, the keto diet seems very attractive on the outside. And to be frank, it is quite an excellent option for some. However, don’t be fooled by the claims. While many of them are legit, they come with restrictions, sacrifices, and limitations. Most diets do have boundaries.
At the end of the day, only YOU can know if the keto diet is good for you. If you’re simply curious if it’s good in the sense that it’s healthy and safe, the evidence indeed backs those claims. Millions are on the keto diet without ill effects, and even more, notice beneficial results from it. With that said, it does come with side effects, especially in the early days of adjustments. If that’s something you can get past, the keto diet may be for you.
To conclude, a diet is a proper diet for you if it’s a diet you can sustain long-term; if it’s a diet you can enjoy, for the most part; if it’s a diet you can afford; and if it’s a diet that aligns with your health and fitness goals.
If the keto diet checks most of these questions off your list, well, you’re in luck! If not, no sweat! There are endless options out there to choose from. Feel free to ask your Chiropractor in West Vancouver for other options.
For recommendation, it never hurts to try something new. Just be sure to give it an honest effort. Trying the keto diet for one week won’t cut it. You must give it 2-4 weeks before you see results and get past the potential side-effects of adjustment. If all of that sounds exciting, give it a shot! Are you ready?! Then give the Keto Diet a try.
