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Understanding Ketogenic Diet for Fat Loss

The ketogenic diet is used by medical professionals to control epileptic seizures in children. But its ability to dramatically trigger biological fat burning processes has indicated the possible use of ketogenic diet for fat loss.

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

The ketogenic diet is an extremely strict and rigid food regimen which places emphasis on foods such as cream and butter which are very high in fat and excludes all sugars, including those in fruit and vegetables, and starches such as bread, pasta and cereals. Protein is allowed but only in minimum adequate levels.

The Atkins diet is a well known form of this diet although far less stringent and severe.

The ketogenic diet is normally overseen by a skilled practitioner such as a dietitian or nutrition expert.

How Does the Ketogenic Diet Work?

This type of diet is one which is very low or eliminates carbohydrates while supplying high fat content and adequate protein. In so doing it mimics the body’s response to starvation whereby the absence of carbohydrate stores to draw on forces the body to turn to stored fat instead.

Carbohydrates, which are basically starches and sugars, are converted by the metabolic processes of the body to glucose which then circulate throughout the internal systems performing many vital functions of which brain health is one. If there are no carbohydrates present then the liver becomes the driving force to convert stored fat into fatty acids and ketones, which are a by-product of fat metabolism, to be used instead.

A state known as ketosis, meaning high ketone levels in the blood, will result.

Is Ketogenic Diet Safe?

There is little doubt that the ketogenic diet for fat loss is extremely effective, altering the body’s metabolic processes and dramatically raising the rates at which fat is burned. However, medical professionals are almost universal in their agreement that as a weight loss plan the ketogenic diet is overly dramatic and carries risks particularly where the individual undertakes little or no exercise.

It stands to reason that forcing the body to pull on the same resources that it will in a state of severe starvation is perhaps not healthy or advisable.

Furthermore, the ketogenic diet is known for being perhaps the most challenging food regimen possible and is rarely continued past a few days duration other than in cases of severe epilepsy where adherence is vital.

Possible Side Effects of Ketogenic Diet

Reported side effects include fetid breath, fatigue, mental fug, irritability, nausea, headaches and dizziness.

Strict adherence to the ketogenic diet will also leave the body depleted of many essential vitamins and minerals which in itself is a cause for concern. Some people argue that this particular difficulty can be overcome with supplements but the quality on the market varies so enormously that you can’t be sure that the product you have chosen is fully effective.

Can it Help With Fat Loss?

In conclusion, the ketogenic diet can help in fat loss but should never be undertaken without first consulting a medical professional and then being prepared to undertake a diet of the utmost severity and discipline with risks attached.

This article on ketogenic diets has been written by expert author ‘Deneice Arthurton’.