Ketogenic diet is the best way to reduce weight. Read the article below to know more on the Ketogenic diet for weight loss.

Ketogenic Diet For Weight Loss

While most diet follows the low fat intake formula, the Ketogenic diet follows the opposite one. It concentrates on cutting down the carbohydrate intake and increasing the intake of fat. This diet was developed in the year 1920, to treat the epileptic seizures. After a decade, its popularity dipped but surged again after the mid 1990’s, after a spate of research on this diet. The weight loss feature in Ketogenic diets came in focus only recently due to the proliferation of diets modeled on the Ketogenic diet formula. The basic principle of the diet is to induce ketosis in the body so that the fat is burned to supply the body with energy. Ketosis takes place in the body only during starvation (when the glucose level in the body is low). To achieve this low glucose level, the diet concentrates on taking less of carbohydrates. Once the glucose level starts dipping the body activates its starvation mechanism, and so the fats gets burned. This results in the loss of weight, without the side effects of starvation. To know more on this diet, read the article given below.
 
Ketogenic Diet And Weight Loss 
  • The basic principle of a Ketogenic diet is to limit the intake of carbohydrate. Any diet that has less than 100 grams of carbohydrates per day is known as a Ketogenic diet.
  • By limiting the intake of carbohydrate, this diet forces the liver to finish its stored glycogen very fast. When the glycogen is over, the fat starts burning to add the fuel. Since, carbohydrate is the main source of glycogen, limiting its intake is the best way to speed up the fat burning process.
  • With the reduction of glycogen in the liver, the body starts using the Free Fatty Acids (FFA) to fuel its activity. Since, the central nervous system and brain can’t use the FFA’s, the production of ketone bodies by the body is increased. These ketones are then metabolized to be used as energy by the body.
  • In a Ketogenic diet, due to the process of ketosis, the insulin production in the body is lowered. This increases the production of glucagon by the pancreas, and in turn the ability of the body to burn fat increases. It also brings to a halt the storage of fat by the body. Thus, it leads to weight loss.
  • In a Ketogenic diet, the ratio of the fat/protein and carbohydrate is 4:1. This diet is also quite flexible.
  • However, Ketogenic diets also faced a lot of criticisms. Critics pointed out that since ketosis is the emergency response of the body to chronic starvation from a shortage of carbohydrates, it can be life threatening as the body generally prefers glucose as a source of energy. 
  • Various studies have found out that a Ketogenic diet has more success in reducing the body weight than a low fat diet. 
Ketogenic Diet Plan
 
Breakfast
  • Flourless crepes
  • Ham
  • Eggs
  • Bacon
 
Lunch And Dinner
 
  • Steak
  • Chicken
  • Chili
  • Tacos
  • Tuna salad
  • Cheeseburgers
  • Shrimp 
Desserts
  • Peanut butter cookies
  • Cheesecake
  • Strawberry-banana trifle 
Snacks
  • Chicken salad
  • Cheese sticks
  • Pecans
  • Split pea soup

How to Cite

More from iloveindia.com