FEELING KETOGENIC

Everyone is going Keto, or at least that is what it seems like. From celebrities to doctors, this diet is rapidly becoming popular, even bypassing Paleo in terms of google searches within the last few months! Not everyone approaches The Ketogenic Diet the same way and not everyone knows how to do it right, so, it is understandable why there is plenty of confusion surrounding this approach to food.

WHAT IS IT?

THE KETOGENIC DIET IS A DIETARY STYLE THAT FOCUSES ON A LOW CARB INTAKE (BETWEEN 20-70 GRAMS PER DAY), HIGH FAT INTAKE AND MODERATE PROTEIN INTAKE. THE GOAL OF IT IS THAT, ONCE OUR CARBOHYDRATE STORAGES ARE DEPLETED, THE BODY BEGINS TO USE ADIPOSE TISSUE (FAT) WITHIN THE BODY TO FUEL ITSELF IN A PROCESS CALL KETOSIS, THEREFORE BURNING UNWANTED BODY FAT.

Now, let’s talk myths, truths and lies...

Myth #1: Keto is dangerous because it increases our cholesterol

Let me start with this statement: Cholesterol isn’t the enemy. In fact, it is the precursor of our sex-hormones, which is why we’re having an epidemic in hormonal issues and infertility in places where the low-fat diet is highly popular. What is actually a risk when it comes to heart health? Triglycerides. What raised them? Carbs.

Now, because in the 80s and 90s medical and nutrition institutions started their war on fat, we have grown to believe that fat is the worst possible thing we could ever eat, when in fact it is the preferred source of fuel that our bodies have.

But in the end, there isn’t evidence at all that a Ketogenic diet poses any problem to our heart’s health and, in fact, the improvements in inflammation, cognition, hormonal and circulatory health that this dietary style has to offer, is quickly debunking the unjustified bad rep that fat has had for so long.

Myth #2: Keto is a new and under researched diet

Even though the Ketogenic Diet is getting lots of press and all the “cool kids” and celebrities are raving about it, the truth is that this diet is neither new nor revolutionary. On the contrary, the use of a therapeutic Ketogenic diet to treat illnesses like epilepsy goes back to ancient Greece, to around 400 BC.

Later, in 1921, physicians in different American research centres, including Russell Wilder at Mayo Clinic, started tweaking a version of it and combining it with fasting to help patients.

So, as you can see, Keto isn’t a new science at all, however, after decades of demonising fats and building up grains and carbs as the nutritional holy grail, many of us have gone against this and back to what we feel works best for us.