5 Common Ketogenic Diet Myths
The ketogenic diet seems to be the ‘in' thing now. But since many people are talking about it, there are also many ketogenic diet myths going around.
One thing is true though, many people swear by the ketogenic diet's effectivity in achieving their health goals.
Get your facts straight with these common ketogenic diet myths:
1 – Ketosis and Ketoacidosis are the Same
When you go into a ketogenic diet, your goal is for your body to reach ketosis, a metabolic state. Ketosis happens when your body breaks down the fats in your body and converts them into ketone bodies for energy.
Ketoacidosis, on the other hand, is a potentially life-threatening complication for diabetics. This happens when your body is not producing enough insulin and ketone levels are too high. Your body's blood is highly acidic.
Symptoms of ketoacidosis include abdominal pain, thirst, weakness, shortness of breath, and blurred vision.
2 – You Can Go On and Off keto diet And Still Lose Weight
You can't go on a ketogenic diet on and off and expect to lose weight. On the contrary, you'll find yourself gaining more weight.
Some people start a ketogenic diet without giving it much thought. The result? They do it for a day, three days, or a week then go back to eating carb-loaded meals.
You will never achieve sustained ketosis this way. Before you start on this diet give it some thought.
On days when you miss eating carbs, you can do the cyclic ketogenic diet. It allows you 1 or 2 days per week where you can eat more carbs than you normally should on a standard ketogenic diet.
3 – The Ketogenic Diet is Bad for Diabetics
New studies claim that the ketogenic diet is actually good for those with Type 2 diabetes.
One study showed that 60% of diabetic patients were able to reverse their condition after a year of a ketogenic diet. They were able to go off insulin.
The ketogenic diet can also bring down cardiovascular risks.
4 – The Ketogenic Diet is Bad for the Heart
The ketogenic diet is known as a high-fat diet. So, it's easy for anyone to think the keto diet raises cholesterol and leads to cardiovascular diseases.
However, various studies and personal experiences prove that a low-carb diet helps you lose weight, improve cholesterol, and reduce cardiovascular risks.
As tangible proof, tests show improvement in cardiovascular markers such as good cholesterol (HDL) and blood pressure.
5 – Any Kind of Fatty Food is Good
Yes, there is such a thing as the dirty keto where you get the fat content of your diet from fast food and processed food.
In fact, some people are happy about the ketogenic diet because it allows them to eat burgers and bacon and still expect to lose weight.
But if you want to reap the health benefits of a ketogenic diet, you'll need to choose the right kind of fat sources.
Food like bacon, sausage, ham, or burgers are high in saturated fat. And they put you at risk for cardiovascular problems.
Instead, eat more of seafood and fresh meat or poultry. Search online for a list of healthy ketogenic food.