Unlike many fashionable diets that come and go and have little long-term success, ketogenic (or keto) diets have been practiced for more than nine decades (since the 1920s) and are based on a solid understanding of human physiology and nutritional science.

The keto diet works for a great many people because it targets several important underlying causes of weight gain:

• Hormonal disorders, especially insulin resistance associated with high blood sugar levels
• The vicious circle of ravenous appetite attack, which many people get into when they stop eating calories for a while and then devour vast amounts of empty calories with ravenous appetite

Table of contents

• What exactly is the keto diet?
• How does the keto diet work?
• What is ketosis?
• How to reach the state of ketosis
• 6 great advantages of the keto diet
• Introduction to the Keto Diet
• 9 different keto diets
• How to know that the keto diet works (i.e. you are in a ketosis state)
• How do I eat ketogen?
• Precautions for a ketogenic diet
• Concluding remarks

What exactly is the keto diet?

The classic ketogenic diet is a very low carbohydrate diet plan that was originally developed in the 1920s by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medical Center for epileptics. Researchers found that fasting - i.e. not eating for a certain period of time (e.g. interval fasting), including carbohydrates - helped to reduce the frequency of seizures. Additionally further positive effects on body fat, blood sugar, Cholesterin as well as the hunger feeling were determined.

Long-term chamfered is in the long run naturally no solution. So the scientists developed the Keto Diet, in order to imitate the positive effects of chamfered.

Essentially, the keto diet works for beginners by getting the body to act as if it were fasting (while enjoying the benefits of interval fasting). This is done by strictly abstaining from any glucose contained in foods containing carbohydrates. Today, a normal keto diet is called by different names, such as "low-carb diet" (LCKD; low-carbohydrate) or "very-low-carb diet" (VLCKD; very low-carbohydrate).

At the heart of any classic keto diet is the severe restriction of all foods containing sugar and starch (carbohydrates). These foods are converted into sugar (insulin and glucose) in the blood immediately after consumption. The higher the level of glucose and insulin in the blood, the easier it is to store additional calories as body fat, leading to unwanted weight gain. However, if the blood sugar level drops due to the low carbohydrate intake, the body starts burning fat instead and produces ketones that can be detected in the blood (e.g. with urine strips).

Keto diets, like most low-carb diets, are successful because they do not contain glucose. Most people eat a high-carbohydrate diet and therefore provide their body with glucose (sugar) as an energy source. We cannot produce glucose ourselves and can only store about a 24 hour supply in our muscle tissue and liver. When glucose is no longer available from food sources, the body begins to burn stored fat or fat from food intake.

So if you follow a ketogenic nutrition plan for beginners, your body will burn fat rather than carbohydrates to produce energy. As a consequence, most people lose weight and excess body fat very quickly. This is true even if they consume large amounts of fat and calories every day. Another great advantage of a keto diet is that you don't have to count calories, you don't feel hungry, and you don't have to try to burn many calories through hours of intense training.

In some ways, the keto diet is similar to the Atkins diet, which also boosts the body's fat burning process by eating only low carbohydrate (low sugar) foods. By avoiding glucose, which is contained in carbohydrates, the body burns fat for energy. The main difference between the classic keto diet and the Atkins diet is that the former promotes the consumption of healthy keto fats, limits the intake of proteins and avoids processed meats (such as bacon). At the same time, more research is being done to confirm the effectiveness of this diet.

In fact, those differences from the Atkins diet outline some of the most common reservations about the keto diet (a lot of protein, any kind of fat, little scientific research proving the benefits). These are simply nutritional lies.

Is a keto diet healthy? According to Atkins? No. But if you eat plenty of healthy fats, green vegetables and organic meat, yes.

How does the keto diet work?

Instead of tedious calorie counting, smaller portion sizes, excessive physical activity or the use of a lot of willpower, this low-carbohydrate diet takes a completely different approach to weight loss and improving overall health.

The diet works because the body's actual "fuel source" is changed: instead of glucose (sugar), the body burns stored dietary fats. This is done thanks to appropriate keto recipes or keto products, including high-fat and low-carbohydrate foods.

When you make this change, you allow your body to burn what is called "ketosis" (when the body burns fats instead of sugar). Even beginners or people without much keto knowledge can get started with this diet surprisingly easily.

This is how you follow a keto diet:

1. Reduce your carbohydrate intake.
2. Increase the intake of healthy fats, which contribute to a feeling of satiety.
3. Without glucose in your body, it must now burn fats and produce ketones.
4. Once the ketone level in your blood reaches a certain level, you are officially in ketosis.
5. This status ensures a steady, relatively rapid weight loss until you reach a healthy and stable body weight.

What is ketosis?

What does "keto" actually stand for? Keto is the abbreviation for ketosis. This is the state you reach when you eat a ketogenic diet. This is why it is sometimes called a ketosis diet.

A ketogenic diet puts your body into ketosis, a metabolic state characterized by the fact that the body gets most energy from ketones in the blood, rather than glucose from carbohydrates (such as cereals, sugar or fruit). The body is therefore no longer in a glycolytic state in which blood sugar (sugars) provides most of the energy required.

You can also reach this state by fasting for several days, but you cannot maintain it for long. (This is however the reason why some keto diets recommend interval fasting to beginners in order to accelerate weight loss).

Dietary fats (especially saturated fatty acids) generally have a bad reputation and are associated with the fear of gaining weight or increasing the risk of heart disease. However, fats are the body's second best source of energy when carbohydrates are not available.

How to reach the state of ketosis

Many people wonder if the keto diet works. Yes, of course. But only if you can put your body in the state of ketosis.

This is how you get your body into ketosis and burn body fat to produce energy (for beginners):

1. The intake of glucose from carbohydrate-containing foods - cereals, starchy vegetables, fruit, etc. - is reduced to a minimum.
2. Thus the body is forced to look for another source of energy: Consume good fats (avocados, coconut oil, salmon).
3. Because the body no longer has glucose at its disposal, it starts to burn fat and produce ketones.
4. As soon as the ketone content in the blood reaches a certain level, you are in ketosis.
5. High ketone levels are accompanied by rapid, constant weight loss until you reach a healthy, stable body weight.

Surely you are now wondering how much carbohydrate you can consume without losing the state of ketosis. According to the traditional keto diet, which was developed for epileptics, you should:

• 75% of calories from fats (oils or fatty meat)
• 5 % from carbohydrates and
• 20 % consist of protein.

However, most people can follow a less restrictive diet and still lose weight rapidly (modified keto diet).

To reach and maintain the state of ketosis, a daily intake of 30 to 50 grams of carbohydrates is usually recommended. This moderate, flexible approach is not so overwhelming for a beginner. Once you are accustomed to your new ketogenic diet, you can further reduce your carbohydrate intake (sometimes only daily), for example to 20 grams a day. This is the value that many people consider standard. However, every person is different and everyone has to find their own personal measure.

6 great advantages of the keto diet

1. Weight loss

Of the many benefits of a keto diet, weight loss is often considered the number one. In fact, many people lose weight quickly and to a considerable extent (especially in cases of overweight or obesity). A study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2013. It states that those who follow a keto diet "achieve better body weight and cardiovascular risk factor management in the long term compared to people on a conventional low-fat diet (i.e. less than 30 percent of the energy supplied comes from fats), achieve better long-term body weight and cardiovascular risk factor management".

In 2014, scientists published a report in the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health:

One of the most studied diets for weight loss in recent years has been ketogenic diets. Many studies have shown that this nutritional approach has a solid physiological and biochemical basis and is capable of achieving effective weight loss and improving several cardiovascular risk parameters.

Weight loss through a keto diet has also been confirmed. High-fat, low-carbohydrate diets can both counteract feelings of hunger and increase weight loss through a hormonal effect. As described above, our body releases very little insulin when we eat a low-carbohydrate diet. When insulin levels are low, the body does not store additional energy in the form of fat for later use and can instead penetrate existing fat stores.

Keto diets are rich in healthy fats and protein and are generally very satisfying. This counteracts excessive consumption of empty calories, sweets and junk food. Most people who eat a healthy diet low in carbohydrates have no problem consuming enough calories (but not too many). However, sugary drinks, cookies, bread, cereals, ice cream or other desserts and snacks are taboo.

Lymphedema often occurs after lymph node removal or due to cancer-related damage. Then a blockage in the lymphatic system occurs, causing swelling in the legs or arms. A study from 2017 included patients suffering from obesity and lymphedema who were on an 18-week ketogenic diet. As a result, the subjects not only lost weight, but their arm and leg circumference was also significantly reduced.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormone disorder in women of childbearing age. Symptoms include obesity, hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance. A pilot study accompanied eleven women who were on a ketogenic diet (20 grams of carbohydrates or less per day) for 24 weeks. Five of the women completed the study and lost an average of 12 percent of their body weight. Fasting insulin levels dropped by 54 percent. In addition, two women who previously suffered from infertility became pregnant.

2. Reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes

If you burn fat instead of glucose, you will not only lose excess weight. Rather, fat burning helps to control the release of hormones such as insulin. Insulin plays a crucial role in the development of diabetes and other health problems. When we eat carbohydrates, our body releases insulin in response to the rise in blood sugar levels; insulin levels rise accordingly. Insulin is a so-called storage hormone that signals cells to store as much available energy as possible, first as glycogen (also known as stored carbohydrates in our muscles) and then as body fat.

The Keto Diet works by drastically reducing the supply of carbohydrates. As a result, the body's carbohydrate stores are not replenished. As a result, only little insulin is released after a meal and the blood sugar level normalizes. Thus, an existing insulin resistance can be reversed. Insulin resistance is often the core cause of diabetes. In studies, low-carb diets have shown benefits in improving blood pressure, postprandial glycemia and insulin secretion.

Therefore, diabetics who take insulin should consult their physician before starting a ketogenic diet, as the dose may need to be adjusted.

3. Reduced risk of heart disease

A ketogenic diet can reduce the risk of certain markers of heart disease, including high cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Despite the fact that you eat a lot of fat (good fats in this case) as part of a keto diet, it is very unlikely that this diet will have a negative effect on your cholesterol level. In contrast, especially in the case of obesity, the diet can reduce risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases.

In one study, scientists observed that a ketogenic diet over 24 weeks was associated with reduced triglyceride, LDL and blood sugar levels in many subjects. At the same time there was an increase in HDL levels ("good" cholesterol).

4. Helps to protect against cancer

Some studies suggest that a ketogenic diet "starves" cancer cells. If you eat plenty of processed, inflammation-promoting, low-nutrient foods, you strengthen cancer cells and promote their proliferation. What is the connection between high sugar consumption and cancer? Our normal body cells are able to use fats as an energy source. However, it is believed that cancer cells are unable to make the transition from glucose to fat as an energy source.

Several medical studies - including two conducted by the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center for the University of Iowa through the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - show that a ketogenic diet can be an effective treatment for cancer and other serious health problems.

Therefore, a keto diet that avoids refined sugars and other processed carbohydrates can effectively relieve and fight cancer. It is no coincidence that some of the foods that are best at fighting cancer are also on the list of recommended keto foods.

5. Fights brain diseases and neurological disorders

Over the last century, ketogenic diets have also been used as natural remedies to treat and even reverse neurological disorders and cognitive impairments, including epilepsy, Alzheimer's, manic depression and anxiety. Research shows that lowering glucose levels through a very low-carbohydrate diet will cause your body to produce ketones as energy. This change can help reverse neurological disorders and cognitive impairment, and can also help control epileptic seizures. The brain is able to use this alternative energy source instead of the cellular energy pathways that do not function normally in patients with brain disorders.

To treat drug-resistant epilepsy, researchers developed a clinical diet called the Medium Chain Triglyceride Ketogen Diet, which makes extensive use of MCT oils because they are more ketogenic than long-chain triglycerides. As an alternative to the keto diet, also for the treatment of epilepsy, the so-called diet "Low Glycemic Index Treatment" (LGIT) has also been developed. This involves monitoring the total amount of carbohydrates consumed daily and focusing primarily on carbohydrates with a low glycemic index.

Clinical observations have shown an improvement in the symptoms of Alzheimer's patients who follow a ketogenic diet. Mitochondrial function also improved. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition points to new data suggesting the therapeutic use of ketogenic diets for multiple neurological disorders beyond epilepsy and Alzheimer's, including headache, neurotrauma, Parkinson's disease, sleep disorders, brain tumors, autism and multiple sclerosis.

The report goes on to say that while these different diseases are clearly different, ketogenic nutrition appears to be effective in treating neurological problems because of its "neuroprotective effect". The researchers suspect that ketones can correct anomalies in cellular energy use, which play a role in many neurological diseases.

A study with mice showed that a keto diet could slow the progression of the disease in both ALS and Huntington's disease. In fact, in more than one animal study, scientists have found a potential benefit of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet or interval fasting. These benefits included weight loss, glucose control and neuronal protection from injury.

Interestingly, the researchers were also able to show that this could slow down the progression of ALS and Huntington's disease in mice.

Scientists suspect that a ketogenic diet can also help patients with schizophrenia and normalize pathophysiological processes that cause symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, lack of restraint and unpredictable behavior. One study found that the keto diet leads to increased concentrations of kynurenic acid (KYNA) in the hippocampus and striatum, which promotes neuroactive activity. Some studies even suggest the elimination of gluten as a possible cause of improved symptoms. The researchers were able to show that patients with schizophrenia tend to eat more carbohydrates immediately before a psychotic episode.

Although the exact role of the keto diet in mental and brain disorders is unclear, there is evidence of its effectiveness in patients with schizophrenia. In addition, a ketogenic diet can reverse typical side effects of conventional drugs used to treat brain diseases, such as weight gain, type 2 diabetes and the risk of cardiovascular disease. Further research is needed to understand the role of ketogenic nutrition in treating or improving schizophrenia, as the studies currently available are either animal studies or case studies. However, initial results show the benefits of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet in neurology and are promising.

6. Prolongs life span

Meanwhile, study results are available that show that a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (like the keto diet) increases longevity compared to a low-fat diet. One study was published in the medical journal "The Lancet". The scientists evaluated data from more than 135,000 adults in 18 countries. A high carbohydrate intake was associated with a higher mortality rate; a high-fat (total and certain fats) diet was associated with a lower mortality rate. No association was found between total fat intake or intake of certain fats with regard to cardiovascular disease, heart attacks or mortality from cardiovascular disease.

In fact, the consumption of saturated fats seemed to have the opposite effect on the risk of heart attacks. The more saturated fats they consumed daily, the greater seemed to be their protection against a heart attack.

A ketogenic diet also seemed to strengthen autophagocytosis. This is the process by which the body can rid itself of damaged cells, including old cells that no longer serve any purpose, but are still present in the tissues and organs. In animal experiments with rats that were fed ketogenically, it was shown that they formed autophageous pathways that reduced brain injuries during and after a seizure.

Nowadays, autophagocytosis is considered a popular procedure to help people with visible signs of aging. A ketogenic diet is one way to achieve this.

Introduction to the Keto Diet

The exact ratio of macronutrients you should consume each day (percentage of carbohydrates, fats and proteins) varies depending on your nutritional goals and your current state of health. Your age, gender, level of activity and current body composition also play a role.

Traditionally, in a classic keto diet, carbohydrate intake is limited to 20 to 30 grams net per day. "Net" here means the amount of carbohydrates minus the dietary fiber contained. Since dietary fiber cannot be digested by the body, most people calculate this proportion from their carbohydrate intake.

Or in other words:

Total carbohydrates - dietary fiber = net carbohydrates.

And it is exactly this value that is most important.

In a "strict" keto diet (the standard variety), fats provide between 70 and 80 percent of total calories, proteins about 15 to 20 percent and carbohydrates only about 5 percent. However, there are also moderate approaches that help many people to switch to a very low-carbohydrate diet and offer more flexibility. (More about the individual approaches can be found below).

What are you allowed to eat if you follow a ketogenic diet? Here are some basic rules that apply in general - regardless of which approach you choose:

1. Limit your protein intake

An important difference to other low-carbohydrate diets and the keto diet is that a ketogenic diet limits protein intake. Proteins do not play as big a role in the keto diet as fats.

Why?

Our body is able to convert a limited amount of protein into glucose. Therefore, if you consume too much protein, especially when starting a keto diet, you will slow down the conversion process and not reach the state of ketosis as easily.

Protein intake should be between 1 and 1.5 grams per kg of your ideal body weight. This means that a woman weighing 68 kg, for example, should consume between 68 and 102 g of protein daily.

2. Keep an eye on your macronutrient intake

Macronutrients include fats, proteins and net carbohydrates. (Do not confuse this with calorie counting.) However, sometimes this is not so easy. That's why you should download a keto app, which also contains a keto calculator. This will help you keep track of your macronutrient intake.

3. Take keto supplements to increase your success

A popular supplement is exogenous ketones (so-called keto pills), thanks to which you can more easily get into ketosis and maintain this condition. (Do not confuse exogenous ketones with raspberry ketones. Raspberry ketones do not increase the level of ketones in your body or mimic the body's own ketones. You should therefore not take raspberry ketones).

Another good preparation is the amino acid leucine. This is converted directly to acetyl-CoA and is the most important ketogenic amino acid in the body. Most other amino acids are converted to glucose, but acetyl-CoA from leucine is used to produce ketone bodies. Leucine is also found in ketofriendly foods like eggs and cottage cheese.

4 Drink water!

It is very important that you drink plenty of water. Water is the most important keto drink. Sufficient water fights fatigue, supports digestion and relieves hunger. The body also needs water for detoxification. You should drink 10 -12 large glasses (250 ml) of water per day.

5. Cheating prohibited

Finally, with a ketogenic diet, no cheating days, not even single cheating meals are allowed.

Why?

A meal that contains too many carbohydrates means that your body can no longer maintain the state of ketosis and you have to start over again.

This also means that if you give in to your cravings and enjoy a cheating meal, you will start to experience symptoms of keto flu again. However, your body will make the switch to ketosis again, possibly even faster than the first time.

9 different keto diets

What is a keto diet again? And is a ketogenic diet healthy and safe? Well, when a diet is as successful as the ketogenic diet, new diet plans emerge over time. The answer to both questions therefore depends to some extent on which of these keto diets you follow. Currently we know of nine different keto diets.

Surely you are now wondering how high the carbohydrate intake can be without losing the state of ketosis. The traditional keto diet was developed for epileptics and is very strict about the percentage of macronutrients allowed. Other keto diets are less strict in return.

These are the most common keto diets:

1. Standard Keto Diet (SKD): 75 percent of calories come from fats (oils or fatty meats), 5 percent from carbohydrates and 20 percent from proteins.
2. Modified Keto Diet (MKD): Carbohydrate intake is limited to 30 percent of total calories. Fats provide 40 percent and proteins 30 percent.
3. Cyclic Keto Diet (CKD): If it is difficult for you to consume so few carbohydrates every day, a cyclic keto diet may be right for you. With a cyclic diet, you increase your carbohydrate intake (and sometimes total calories) at the right time and in the right amount, about once or twice a week (e.g., on weekends).
4. Targeted Keto Diet (TKD): You follow a keto diet, but eat extra carbohydrates around your workout. This means you eat carbohydrates on the days you exercise.
5. Restricted Keto Diet (RKD): This diet was developed to treat cancer. It not only limits carbohydrate intake, but also the total calories. Some studies suggest that this diet may help to treat cancer.
6. High Protein Keto Diet (HPKD): This diet is mostly followed by people who want to maintain their muscle mass (e.g. bodybuilders or seniors). The protein content in this diet is 30 percent instead of 20 percent. The percentage of fat is reduced to 65 percent and the carbohydrate intake remains at 5 percent. (Attention: If you have kidney problems, you should not take in too much protein).
7. Vegan keto diet or vegetarian keto diet: Yes, both are possible. Instead of animal products, this diet is rich in low-carbohydrate, nutritious vegan and/or vegetarian foods. Nuts, seeds, low-carbohydrate fruits and vegetables, green leafy vegetables, healthy fats and fermented foods are excellent for a plant-based ketogenic diet. Some people also follow a ketotaric diet. This is a mixture of ketogenic, vegetarian, vegan and/or pesco-vegetarian diets designed to promote health.
8. Dirty Keto Diet: "Dirty" is the correct term for this form of diet. The same percentages apply as for the strict keto diet (75% fat/ 20% protein, 5% carbohydrates). However, no emphasis is placed on healthy fats such as coconut oil and wild salmon. Instead, you can eat anything you want as long as it is "keto", i.e. bacon, sausage, pork rind, diet soda and even ketogenic fast food. This diet is not recommended!
9. Keto diet for lazy people: Last but not least, the keto diet for lazy people. Do not confuse this with the dirty keto diet. "Lazy" simply refers to the fact that you don't keep a close eye on your fat and protein (or calorie) intake. One thing, however, remains the same. You don't eat more than 20 grams of carbohydrates a day. Some people find this approach less intimidating, especially for beginners. However, the results are less impressive than with other keto diets.

How to know that the keto diet works (i.e. you are in a ketosis state)

Without glucose, which our body normally uses as a quick source of energy, the body begins to burn fat and form ketone bodies. (This is why a ketogenic diet is sometimes called a ketone diet.) Once the level of ketone in your blood reaches a certain level, you are in ketosis. This condition usually results in rapid, sustained weight loss - until you reach a healthy body weight.

Simply put, your body reaches a fat-burning state when the liver converts fat into fatty acids and glycerol in a process called beta-oxidation. The liver primarily produces three different types of ketone bodies.

These are water-soluble molecules called:

• Acetoacetate
• Beta-hydroxybutyrate
• Acetone

These fatty acids are converted into energy-rich substances called ketones, which then circulate in the blood. Fatty acid molecules are further broken down during ketogenesis. This produces the ketone body acetoacetate, which provides energy to the cells.

The aim of ketogenic nutrition is to ensure that high-energy ketones (ketone bodies) circulate in your blood. Your metabolism thus changes and you become a "fat burning machine". This change has a great effect on your body and feels physically and mentally different from the glycolytic state, where the body is primarily supplied with blood glucose as energy.

Is ketosis bad for you?

A very clear no. In fact, the exact opposite is the case. Many people consider burning ketones to be a much "cleaner" way to supply their body with sugar and carbohydrates as an energy source day in, day out.

Ketosis should also not be confused with ketoacidosis. Ketoacidosis is a serious side effect of diabetes in which the body produces excess ketones (or blood acid).

The aim is to maintain this fat-burning metabolic state, which causes you to lose weight until you reach a healthy weight. Some research approaches suggest that this could also naturally reverse a diabetes disease.

How do I eat a ketogenic diet?

In the beginning you should follow simple, healthy and delicious keto recipes, keto fat bombs and keto snacks.

Certain foods should not be missing, while others should be avoided at all costs.

Here is a brief overview for you:

• Consume plenty of vegetables: green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, spinach, kale, seafood, peppers, etc. These provide enough fiber and yet contain little carbohydrates.
• Protein-rich, but low in carbohydrates or carbohydrate-free products are: Meat from pasture farming, poultry and eggs from free-range farming, bone stock, fish from game, organic meat and raw milk products, for example cheese from raw goat milk.
• Healthy fats with little or no carbohydrates are: olive oil, coconut oil, butter from pasture milk, nuts and seeds.
• You may also eat fruit in small quantities: Berries and avocado (which are also fruit) are allowed without restriction. We have put together a list of fruit as part of a ketogenic diet.
• Vegetarians or vegans can also eat ketogenic food.
• Avoid industrially processed foods: which contain a lot of calories and very few nutrients. These include products made from wheat flour, with added sugar, traditional dairy products, bread and other processed cereal products such as pasta, sweetened snacks such as cakes and cookies, most commercial breakfast cereals, sweetened drinks, ice cream and pizza.

Precautions for a ketogenic diet

Remember that a ketogenic diet changes your metabolism. You will reach the state of ketosis and burn fat instead of sugar. This represents a significant change for your body. You will therefore notice some symptoms of the so-called keto flu.

The symptoms of the keto flu or side effects of a keto diet are:

• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Digestive problems like constipation
• lack of strength during sports
• Capriciousness
• Halitosis

Fortunately, these side effects do not affect all people and usually only last one or two weeks. (And yes, you can build muscle even with a keto diet.) In general, the side effects disappear as soon as your body gets used to ketosis.

If you want to feed your child ketogenically and thus treat his or her epilepsy, this should only be done under strict medical supervision. If you are a very active person with only a low body fat percentage, you should follow a modified keto diet in which the carbohydrate intake is not so strongly limited, or try carb-cycling, another dietary concept.

Concluding remarks

Ketogenic diets were originally developed to treat epilepsy in children for whom other therapeutic approaches had no effect. Today, adults also benefit from the diet, including people suffering from chronic health conditions such as obesity, cancer and diabetes.

Does a keto diet work?

Yes, even for beginners, the pounds drop quickly and reliably. This is due to reduced insulin levels in the body. The body is forced to use stored fat instead of sugar as an energy source.

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