What is keto and how can it help with weight loss?
The ketogenic diet is an effective yet highly controversial diet due to the many misconceptions surrounding it and what some would argue is the longstanding effect it can have on your physical and mental health.
The ketogenic diet relies on a high-fat and very-low-carbohydrate intake (usually less than 50g per day). This has been proven to be very effective for rapid weight loss but is also sustainable over time. After a time of reducing your carbs and replacing them with fats, your body will eventually reach a state of ketosis. This means your body is forced to use fat from food or your stores as energy instead, which attributes to the rapid weight loss. Before the body reaches a state of ketosis, a lot of people feel lethargic and tired. This is not something to worry about; it is just your body entering this state which is completely safe. However, as certain diets are not suitable for everyone; if this lasts longer than 3 weeks, we recommend adding more carbs back into your diet.
Keto foods are high fat and low carb and can mostly be found in animal products such as dairy or high-fat meats such as beef. Not many people are aware that high-fat meats can be preferable to their leaner counterparts (such as chicken breast) as the fats provide a greater source of energy with this diet. However, there are also plant alternatives such as avocado, coconut and olives. These are a great way to keep your diet balanced and keep some diversity in your diet which is more likely to keep you on the right track. Those that enjoy these kinds of food and can stick to the diet for a long time will benefit from it the most. Those that start the diet looking to lose weight will also benefit as it is very effective.
Studies in the early 1900s were conducted to see if this diet would help with epilepsy, which it was successful. However, in more recent times, I believe the ketogenic diet, along with the Paleo diet, have become popularised mainly due to word of mouth and anecdotes. People talking about their amazing weight loss in a relatively short time is enough to have people try it out. There have also been celebrities promoting this diet which in-turn makes more people switch over.
Is it safe? What are the downsides?
Whilst the diet is safe for most, some experience issues, particularly with their thyroid. Thyroid hormones play a significant role in glucose metabolism. Whilst you must cut down on carbohydrates to fit the ketogenic diet, if your body has too little insulin it can impair the liver’s ability to convert the inactive thyroid hormone thyroxine to the active form triiodothyronine. This can lead to chronic inflammation. To reduce this, it is recommended to introduce the following into your diet: leafy greens, Omega-3 fatty acids, CBD oil, and vitamin D.
Everyone is different so one diet that is good for one person may not be good for another. This is why it is always best to trial a specific diet to see how your body reacts. This is why it would be hard to recommend one diet over another without knowing an individual’s history or health or doing blood work. However, it is recommended to have a very balanced diet with high fruits and vegetables (for the vitamins and minerals). If you are trying to lose weight and the keto diet does not agree with you, it is always best to stick to a varied diet, drink plenty of water and exercise. If you are in a calorie deficit you will lose weight, but you should always make sure these are healthy calories as you will feel a lot better whilst losing the weight!
Keto meal prep
As long as you do the keto diet right, it can most definitely be healthy! However, it can be hard to start a keto diet. You can get lost in knowing what to cook and when to eat it. It is also confusing to some who are used to cooking with plenty of carbs. However, keto food does not have to be boring or expensive! This is where Meal Prep Source comes in, we have plenty of keto meal preppers around the world from London, U.K. to Sydney Australia to Houston Texas. Using our site you can instantly find and compare keto meal preppers that operate in your area to find the perfect keto meal prep service to fit your dietary and lifestyle needs! So, yes, keto meal prep can be healthy meal prep as long as it is done correctly. Take out the guesswork and have someone create it for you to get you started on the right track.
