The Keto Diet: A Revolution For Weight Loss
The Keto Diet: A Revolution For Weight Loss
To say that obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States is not an exaggeration.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over two-thirds of American adults are overweight.
This is no small matter. Obesity is linked to as many as 400,000 deaths each year in the United States and adds about $117 billion dollars annually to health care costs.
The problem is…it’s hard to lose weight. And it’s particularly hard to lose fat…especially from the midsection.
Traditional diets usually focus on cutting total calories and eating significantly less dietary fat. Unfortunately, this approach also tends to reduce metabolism, making it even more difficult for your body to burn that persistent abdominal fat.
Not surprisingly, these more traditional approaches to dieting are under increased scrutiny, as people search for more effective ways to lose weight. In particular, many experts have shifted their attention to the Keto diet.
The Keto approach to eating attacks fat loss by actually increasing fat consumption and reducing dietary carbohydrates.
But does Keto really work?
To begin, let’s review the basics of the Keto diet.
How the “Keto diet” works
Your body is designed to turn carbohydrates into easy-to-burn glucose. Unfortunately, excess glucose gets stored as body fat. And fat is harder for your body to metabolize than glucose.
The Keto diet is designed to force your body to burn that stored fat by limiting the carbs you eat.
A typical Keto diet is made up of approximately 70% fats, 20% protein, and only 10% carbohydrates. Keto-friendly foods include meat, fish, whole milk, cheese, eggs, nuts, and low-carb green vegetables.
When reducing carbohydrate intake, your body runs out of glucose as a fuel source and has to burn fat instead. Doctors refer to this metabolic state as “ketosis”…and it helps you lose weight in three important ways:
- Fat metabolism requires more energy. So when your body is forced to burn fat instead of glucose, metabolism is increased overall.
- Rather than burning dietary carbs, your body burns stubborn stored fat instead.
- Fat and protein make you feel fuller and more satisfied, so you eat less.
And there’s evidence that maintaining a Keto diet may actually reduce your body’s ability to store excess carbs as fat…a process called “lipogenesis”.
But does it really work?
It probably sounds too good to be true. Lose weight without counting calories while eating foods with a high fat content.
But according to numerous studies, not only do Keto diets work…they are significantly more successful than traditional weight loss diets.
For example:
A study in the United Kingdom found people on Keto diets lost more than three times as much weight after three months than people on low-fat diets.
In another study, women on a very low carb Keto-style diet lost twice the weight and body fat compared to those on low-fat diets.
Do Keto diets have other benefits?
Research indicates Keto diets do more than just help you lose weight. They also provide other important health benefits such as:
- Improved lipid profile.
- Reduced insulin levels and increased insulin sensitivity.
- Improved blood pressure.
- Reduced inflammation.
- And much more.
What to do
While the Keto diet works well for many people, it’s not recommended if you have certain health conditions like pancreatitis or liver failure. It’s generally a good idea to consult a doctor before beginning any weight loss program.
If you decide to give the Keto approach to eating a try, just remember that the goal is to eat foods that are high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. Want to learn more? We recommend the book “Keto Clarity” by Jimmy Moore for a good overview.
At Renew Youth, our goal is to help you discover a new, healthier, more energetic you. And all diets work better when your hormones are balanced.
That’s where we come in. Call us at 800-859-7511 or use our contact form to set up your free 30-minute consultation.
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