What is the keto diet? Weight loss diet explained

Weight loss and overall health benefits are two of the biggest reasons people choose to start a ketogenic diet, recently. Research.

In the past few years, the diet known as “keto” has risen as a popular weight loss method. But is it really your best choice?

“Restrictive diets are really unnecessary and often burn out for many people,” says a registered dietitian Jamie Nadeau He tells USA TODAY. “Once the diet becomes unsustainable, many people not only gain weight, but many engage in unethical behaviors around food. . . . It often makes you feel like there’s something wrong with you or your lack of interest. It’s setting you up for failure.”

Here’s what health professionals want you to know about the keto diet.

What is the keto diet?

Originally developed as a diet to treat epilepsy in children, the keto diet has become a popular weight loss method among adults, Nadeau says.

It’s a low-carb diet, but instead of focusing on protein as most people do, it focuses on eating high amounts of fat — and especially saturated fats, including butter, lard, and palm or coconut oils. Harvard Health.

“It puts you into a state called ketosis, which causes your body to burn fat instead of glucose,” Nadeau explains.

From a nutritionist’s perspective, this can be a concern, she says, because it prioritizes foods known to be high in nutrients, including whole grains, legumes and fruits. Health experts also say Diets high in fat have been linked to heart disease, and keto in particular causes risks including liver and kidney problems, constipation and mood swings.

How fast do you lose weight on keto?

While quick weight loss is a common goal on diets like keto, Nadeau stresses that it’s “very unsustainable” for most people.

“Even if you lose weight at first, and many do, you may gain it back after the diet becomes unsustainable,” she says. “In fact, most people who lose weight initially on keto gain it back.”

Harvard Health If keto is used for weight loss purposes, he recommends that it only be used as a short-term way to jumpstart weight loss, not a long-term solution.

If you’re looking to lose weight, Nadeau recommends focusing on small lifestyle changes instead: adding more exercise to your daily schedule, eating more fruits, vegetables, and foods high in fiber and protein, and drinking more water.

“New diets always seem exciting and it’s easy to get carried away thinking they’re the magic diet you’ve been looking for,” Nadeau says. “The truth is, restrictive diets don’t work long-term. It’s not something you can imagine yourself doing forever. It won’t work. Your diet changes should be something you can fit into your life forever. You can maintain your health and results forever.”

Paleo, Atkins, and keto are all low-carb. What is the difference between these foods?