Are you thinking about giving the keto diet a go, but wondering if it’s really going to be worthwhile? To help you make your decision, we’re sharing five health benefits of the keto diet so you can see just how it may impact your body, your mind, and your overall health.
If you aren’t familiar with the keto diet, your initial reaction is that it’s some sort of fad-diet that won’t be around for long. However, it may surprise you to find out that it’s actually been practiced since the 1920s due to its rate of success. Recently it’s seen a resurgence for good reason since it provides a variety of unique health benefits unseen in other popular diets. When following a keto diet, you’re going to be eating high-fat, low-carb meals while restricting your intake of foods that contain sugar and starch. Because we tend to eat so many carbs in our daily lives, our bodies would typically run on glucose (from carbohydrates). However, once our glucose stores are no longer available from the foods we’ve consumed, you’ll begin to burn stored fat instead. And your body begins to produce ketones, thus putting you into a state of ketosis. Hence the name “keto” diet.
One of the primary reasons people switch to the keto diet is for its weight loss benefits. As mentioned above, your body won’t have those glucose stores to rely on for energy. Instead, it’s forced to process fat into ketones. And this then becomes your body’s primary source of fuel. Burning fat is obviously going to help you shed the extra pounds faster.
Another important factor in weight loss is having better appetite control. If you find that you’re always hungry on other diets, that shouldn’t be the case when your body enters a state of ketosis. One of the benefits of the keto diet is that you’ll be consuming meals that are high in healthy fats (e.g. avocados, nuts, cheese) and that also contain good sources of protein. These meals are typically very filling, which should aid in preventing overeating. This means you should also be able to eliminate those unhealthy cravings that tend to strike in the afternoon. And all of this is going to help you see those weight loss results much quicker.
A few days into following the keto diet, you may begin to notice an increase in your energy levels. This is something that many who have followed the diet have noticed within the first few days. The reason this happens is because our insulin levels become stabilized from not eating so many carbohydrates and our bodies have a source of energy at the ready when needed. Our bodies can only store so much glycogen from carbs, which means you always have to refuel to maintain your energy levels. However, we have fat that can be burned for energy and our bodies are always able to store more fat. When we’re in ketosis, our bodies have a plentiful energy source to rely on.
How would you like to see an increase in memory and a boost in cognition? Many have reported an increase in mental clarity and also less frequent and less severe migraines once their body has entered ketosis. The reason for this is likely due to the fact that our blood sugar becomes more stabilized in this process. When you’re eating a lot of carbs, the opposite tends to happen, with blood sugar levels constantly going up and down. Ketones, produced when in ketosis, are also known to provide a natural state of mental clarity and focus.
There are even some more serious health benefits that going keto can provide. For one, it may reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. When our bodies are in ketosis, it also helps control our insulin levels, which directly impacts the development of diabetes. Whereas, consuming carbs causes insulin levels to rise and fall rapidly.
So, what’s the Keto Diet?
If you aren’t familiar with the keto diet, your initial reaction is that it’s some sort of fad-diet that won’t be around for long. However, it may surprise you to find out that it’s actually been practiced since the 1920s due to its rate of success. Recently it’s seen a resurgence for good reason since it provides a variety of unique health benefits unseen in other popular diets. When following a keto diet, you’re going to be eating high-fat, low-carb meals while restricting your intake of foods that contain sugar and starch. Because we tend to eat so many carbs in our daily lives, our bodies would typically run on glucose (from carbohydrates). However, once our glucose stores are no longer available from the foods we’ve consumed, you’ll begin to burn stored fat instead. And your body begins to produce ketones, thus putting you into a state of ketosis. Hence the name “keto” diet.
1. It Can Help You Lose Weight
One of the primary reasons people switch to the keto diet is for its weight loss benefits. As mentioned above, your body won’t have those glucose stores to rely on for energy. Instead, it’s forced to process fat into ketones. And this then becomes your body’s primary source of fuel. Burning fat is obviously going to help you shed the extra pounds faster.
2. You’ll Have Better Appetite Control
Another important factor in weight loss is having better appetite control. If you find that you’re always hungry on other diets, that shouldn’t be the case when your body enters a state of ketosis. One of the benefits of the keto diet is that you’ll be consuming meals that are high in healthy fats (e.g. avocados, nuts, cheese) and that also contain good sources of protein. These meals are typically very filling, which should aid in preventing overeating. This means you should also be able to eliminate those unhealthy cravings that tend to strike in the afternoon. And all of this is going to help you see those weight loss results much quicker.
3. Your Energy Levels Will Increase
A few days into following the keto diet, you may begin to notice an increase in your energy levels. This is something that many who have followed the diet have noticed within the first few days. The reason this happens is because our insulin levels become stabilized from not eating so many carbohydrates and our bodies have a source of energy at the ready when needed. Our bodies can only store so much glycogen from carbs, which means you always have to refuel to maintain your energy levels. However, we have fat that can be burned for energy and our bodies are always able to store more fat. When we’re in ketosis, our bodies have a plentiful energy source to rely on.
4. Brain Function will be Improved
How would you like to see an increase in memory and a boost in cognition? Many have reported an increase in mental clarity and also less frequent and less severe migraines once their body has entered ketosis. The reason for this is likely due to the fact that our blood sugar becomes more stabilized in this process. When you’re eating a lot of carbs, the opposite tends to happen, with blood sugar levels constantly going up and down. Ketones, produced when in ketosis, are also known to provide a natural state of mental clarity and focus.
5. It May Reduce Your Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
There are even some more serious health benefits that going keto can provide. For one, it may reduce your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. When our bodies are in ketosis, it also helps control our insulin levels, which directly impacts the development of diabetes. Whereas, consuming carbs causes insulin levels to rise and fall rapidly.
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