What is keto diet?

What is keto diet?

Keto diet or ketogenic diet is a natural fats-based diet, as well as adequate amount of proteins and restriction of carbohydrates. 

The golden rule of keto diet is restriction of carbohydrates. When we eat foods containing carbohydrates (such as sugars and starches), they break down into glucose.

 Recent medical studies showed that increased blood glucose level is harmful; so the less carbohydrate we eat, the less glucose is made and then our bodies become healthy.

 Decreased glucose level means decreased fat deposition in our body tissues, and pushes our body to utilize the stored fat cells (called also ketone bodies) . 

as a source of energy, which in turn has many health benefits especially weight loss and elimination of health issues related to obesity such as heartburn and joint pain.

 Recent medical studies showed that keto diet is an important preventive measure for cancer .

This is because glucose is the main nutritional source for cancerous cells, so reducing cellular glucose content reduces the incidence of cancer.

Also, keto diet is recommended for cancer patients to cut glucose from cancerous cells, which greatly prevents the spread of cancer (metastasis) to the vital organs such as liver, lungs and brain.

Despite many health benefits of keto diet, it's contraindicated in the following medical conditions:

1.    Renal failure.

2.    Pancreatitis.

3.    Cholecystitis.

4.    Mal-digestion or mal-absorption of fats.

5.    Impaired liver functions.

6.    Severe cases of malnutrition.

7.    Impaired motility of GIT.

8.    Patients who take diuretics or anti-epileptic drugs.

On the other side, keto diet may involve some temporary reversible side effects such as; hypoglycemia, consistent feeling of hunger, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, constipation, muscle cramps, ketone breath, vitamins and minerals deficiency.

 If you experience any of these side effects, you can consult a dietitian to fix it.

Finally, as we mentioned above; keto diet includes increasing fat intake, limitation of protein to the needed level and restriction of carbohydrates.

 Commitment of these 3 rules helps in keeping glucose and insulin levels low, as well as increased level of ketone bodies.

 These changes initiates the body to enter in a new metabolic state known as "nutritional ketosis", which is the main target of keto diet to gain all related health benefits.



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