Saudi Gazette

For a lot of those who are new to this term, the Ketogenic diet is arguably one of the most popular diets out there. Pitched alongside Atkins, it believes in the same ideals and theories. The keto diet is a high-fat, protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy, at least that is where it originated. The low carb and high fat diet is one where the body produces ketones in the liver to be used as energy. The way it works is also based on that premise. The body produces glucose and insulin when the intake is high in carbs. Both work closely together as glucose is the easiest for the body to convert and use as energy and insulin is produced to process the glucose in our bloodstream.

Since the glucose is being used as a primary energy, your fats are not needed and are therefore stored. By limiting the intake of carbs, the body is induced into a state known as ketosis. During this diet, our body initiates to help us survive when food intake is low by producing ketones, which are produced from the breakdown of fats in the liver.

The goal is to force your body into this metabolic state where the body will begin to burn ketones as the primary energy source. The well known benefits of the diet include weight loss and increased energy levels to therapeutic medical applications. It helps mental focus, diabetic patients and weight loss because of the drop in insulin levels which turns your body into a fat burning machine. To start a keto diet, you need to be aware of all the things you can and most importantly cannot eat. It takes a lot of planning and more self-control. The less carbohydrates you consume, keeping it to 15 grams or less a day, the faster you will enter ketosis.

Your nutrient intake should be something around 70% fats, 25% protein, and 5% carbohydrate. However increase your water intake and know that it can come with many side effects including hair loss, reduced physical performance, migraines, cramps and mood swings. Bear in mind, if you do not keep up with the diet you will end up gaining the weight back if not more once you stop and resume regular carb intake. Get the KetoApp for more information, recipes and health queries or log on to

www.ketodietapp.com.