What is the Ketogenic Diet?
State of Ketosis Burns Fats
is a strong advocate of the Ketogenic diet as multiple scientific research has validated the immense benefit this diet brings to those who seek to lose weight and improve their overall health. In the medical space, ketogenic diet is also known as Very Low Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD). The word ketogenic is derived from the term ketosis, where it is the metabolic state of the body when it experience reduction of carbohydrates. This metabolic state helps the body to be efficient in burning fat for energy. The combined weight loss and improved health makes it the diet of choice for various athletes such as LeBron James, Ray Allen and celebrities such as Megan Fox, Adriana Lima, Kim Kardashian and Tim McGraw.
Ketogenic diet dates back to the 1920’s where it was used to treat epilepsy in children, and is still recommended by doctors to treat epilepsy whenever the child is not responding to medical treatment. Beginning in the 1990’s and up to today, research has begun to pour in to understand the effects of ketogenic diet on people suffering from Type 2 diabetes and how these diet actually helps to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Besides that, a huge field of research in the area of nutrition has opened up to understand the effects of Ketogenic diet on those with acne, cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, neurological diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, brain trauma, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A summary of the research into these areas can be obtained through the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, published in May 2014, with the title: Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets.
Food in the Ketogenic Diet
Ketogenic diet typically promotes food high in fat and low in carbohydrates, with various percentages, with some totally eliminating carbohydrates! Stellar Cells however advocates the following proportion, with 75% of fat, 20% of protein and carbohydrates as little as 5%. Food that are genrally in this category are meat (any types of poultry, fish, beef, soy based products), eggs (including the yolk!), vegetables (especially those grown above ground), Full Fat Dairy (real butter, cream, sour cream, yogurt, and high fat cheese) and some nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds). High carbohydrate food such as bread, pasta, sugar, milk, corn and rice should be at the minimum to promote ketosis in the body.
How To Start?
The best way to start a Ketogenic Diet is to seek a doctor’s advice (Contact us if you don’t have one!), in that way the doctors can assess whether you are suitable to undergo this diet, ensuring you do not have any disorder that might adversely affect your health. Secondly, do have a diet plan. There are many resources online available, just google “Ketogenic Diet Food Plan”. Finally it would be best to do it in a group with friends, you can share recipes, share food and track one another’s progress!