The keto diet is all the rage right now. Celebrities, athletes, and everyday people are swearing by it as a way to lose weight and get healthy. Literally, everyone is asking where to get the best Keto diet program, but is the keto diet really all it’s cracked up to be? Or is it just another fad diet that will fade away over time? We know that you have a lot to ask, so how about we discuss the truth about the keto diet: how effective is it, right here and right now? Let’s go.
What Is Ketogenic Diet?
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term, a ketogenic diet is a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet that can help you burn fat more effectively. The idea behind the keto diet is to get your body into a state of ketosis, where your body is burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. When you consume a lot of carbohydrates, your body will make more glucose and insulin. Your body will convert glucose into energy, so that is what your body will choose to use first – meaning insulin levels will spike.
Since insulin is a storing hormone, this means that any excess glucose will be stored as fat. On the other hand, when you cut carbs, you force your body to look for an alternative energy source: fat. In a state of ketosis, your body will start to burn stored fat for energy instead of glucose. This is terrific news if you’re trying to lose weight because it means that you can access your body’s own fat stores for energy instead of relying on dietary intake alone.
So, How Effective Is the Keto Diet?
Now that we know a little bit more about how the keto diet works let’s talk about how effective it is. A lot of people swear by the keto diet and say that it helped them lose weight quickly and effectively. And while there are definitely some success stories out there, there is also some evidence that the keto diet may not be as effective as people claim.
A 2017 study of over 1700 obese adults found that, on average, those who followed a ketogenic diet lost about 13 pounds more than those who followed a low-fat diet over the course of 24 weeks. However, it’s important to note that this study was sponsored by a company that produces ketogenic weight-loss supplements, so the results may not be completely unbiased.
Another study, this one from 2016, found that people who followed a low-carbohydrate diet (like the keto diet) lost more weight than those who followed a low-fat diet over the course of 12 months. However, this study had a very small sample size ( just over 100 people), so the results may not be completely accurate. So, what does this all mean? Well, it’s hard to say for sure. The keto diet may help some people lose weight quickly, but there is also some evidence that it might not be as effective as people claim. If you’re thinking about trying the keto diet, it’s essential to speak with your doctor first to make sure it’s right for you.