KETO DIET WITHOUT EXERCISE

 The ketogenic diet has been referred to as the largest diet sensation - ever - in the nutrition industry. So it's worth looking into for that reason alone.

A ketogenic diet is very good in fat (about 75%), moderate in protein (about 20%), and suprisingly low in carbohydrates (about 5%). It's intended to put the human body into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, the human body reduces fat to generate ketones for energy, as opposed to burning glucose.

Benefits of Keto?

Ketosis benefits we typically hear about are fat loss, increased HDL ("good") cholesterol, and improvement in type 2 diabetes, as well as decreased epileptic seizure activity and inhibition of cancerous tumor growth.

Small studies have shown promise for girls with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), an insulin-related condition. This may be because of its possible (not conclusive) ability to reset insulin sensitivity.

Everything Old Is New Again?

The existing KETO DIET WITHOUT EXERCISE is not initially we've targeted carbs as a dietary villain. Medical trials with low-carb eating and/or fasting go back to the 1850s and even earlier.

In 1967, Stillman introduced The Doctor's Quick Weight Loss Diet, featuring essentially nothing but low-fat protein and water.

Next came the Atkins diet in 1972, high in fat and protein, reduced in carbs. It helped with fat loss and also with diabetes, hypertension and other metabolic conditions. It's still popular today.

In 1996, Eades and Eades introduced Protein Power, an extremely low-carb diet that seemed to greatly help patients with obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and/or diabetes.

So reducing carbs, as the Keto diet does, includes a history of helping people lose weight and/or improve metabolic factors. Anecdotal evidence supports that.

Does Keto Have Any Other Benefits?

Probable benefits may be seen with neurodegenerative conditions, such as for instance multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, likely because these brain disorders are linked to metabolic disorders. In reality, Alzheimer's is now called Type 3 diabetes.

Take care of these conditions is better done under medical supervision.

Ketones also appear to boost traumatic brain injury, predicated on research done on rats.

In the Interest of Full Disclosure...

Initial fat loss with the Keto diet is rapid. The human body has used its stored glycogen (carb stored in muscle) and dumped the water that's stored with it. From then on, fat loss may continue, but at a slower rate.

Metabolism shows an initial increase that seems to disappear within 4 weeks.

Keto doesn't appear to offer long-term advantages in either weight reduction or lean mass gains.

In certain people, Keto seems to boost LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

What About Negative Effects?

The usually mentioned "cons" of a ketogenic diet are nutrient deficiencies as a result of missing food groups and an embarrassing transitional state called "Keto flu," which may last for days. It comprises hunger, dehydration, headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, constipation, brain fog, sluggishness, poor focus, and lack of motivation. Since these symptoms are very just like those of men and women quitting caffeine, Keto has been posited as a "detox" plan.

Other negatives include issues with gut health on such a low-fiber diet and difficulty with adherence.

Regarding workouts, the KETO DIET WITHOUT EXERCISE probably offers no advantage for some people. In reality, the glycogen depletion it induces can lead to hitting the wall (bonking). Athletic performance involving speed and power might be lower without glucose and carbohydrates as fuel.

The International Olympic Committee has urged athletes in order to avoid low-carb diets. They can lead to poor training adaptations and decreases in both power output and endurance. A colleague of mine induced cardiac arrhythmias in rats exercising on a low-carb diet.

As a result of low-carb nature of the Keto plan, my concern is how women may fare with respect to serotonin synthesis and function. Carbs play a significant role in transporting tryptophan (the serotonin precursor) to mental performance, so serotonin levels might drop without those carbs. How can that affect women in terms of mood, appetite, impulsivity, and more?

What's the Bottom Line?

Keto is apparently viable for short-term weight-loss and the other medical issues described above. If the approach works long-term continues to be in debate. Its benefits are still in debate, as well. Critics cite possible kidney damage and the possible lack of long-term studies and scientific evidence.

Overall, Keto is apparently neither a long-term cure nor the perfect solution for people who just want to "be healthier." Not least, the diet is burdensome for many individuals to follow along with consistently.

A preferable long-term food plan might be a more balanced one that's reduced in sugar and "junky" carbs and emphasizes healthful, high-fiber foods, including vegetables.