What are Ketones?

When the body burns fat for energy, the water-soluble compounds produced as by-products are known as ketones. This metabolic process is known as ketosis, which is often encouraged through the ketogenic diet. The human body only produces a small number of ketones every day. However, when your body uses fat as the primary source of fuel, ketone production increases. 

There are many benefits associated with the production of ketones. To begin with, it improves your thought process. It is one of the most desired components of the brain, which motors your ability to focus and concentrate better. Your energy levels get better. Your body prepares itself to fight off type 2 diabetes. You feel satiated and your hunger levels are kept under control. The fat that is stored in your body is burned, which aids in quick weight loss.

Getting into Ketosis

One of the most effective and easiest ways to make your body enter the process of ketosis is by following the ketogenic diet — a popular, low-carb, high-fat diet. When you follow a keto diet, you must consume under 20 grams of net carbs per day and include a high proportion of fat and protein in your diet. Under a ketogenic diet, your body switches its main source of fuel from glucose to ketones.

Only when the body enters ketosis are the full benefits of a ketogenic diet reaped. When you drastically reduce your intake of carbs per day, your body starts converting the stored fat molecules into ketones, and hence you enter the state of ketosis.

Another surefire way to achieve ketosis is through a water diet. When you follow a water diet, you are expected to only consume water for a specific period until your body archives ketosis.

Pros and Cons of a Ketogenic Diet

If the ketogenic diet interests you and you are planning to follow it, here are a few advantages and drawbacks of it that you must keep in mind:

Pros:

• A ketogenic diet facilitates weight management by keeping your nutrition intake in check.
• It helps in enhancing your insulin sensitivity.
• When you follow a ketogenic diet, your blood glucose levels, and cholesterol levels are under control.
• Your dependency on medication reduces and the body becomes capable of fighting infections and diseases on its own.
• The predominant reason behind following a ketogenic diet is that it aids in rapid weight loss. Restricting your consumption of carbohydrates encourages your body to enter ketosis, use the stored fat as energy, all while retaining muscle mass.

Cons:

• The risk of the formation of kidney stones increases.
• Following the ketogenic diet for a prolonged period can lead to unhealthy weight loss and degeneration of the muscles.
• Constipation and bloating are some concerns that come with following a keto diet.

Before making any drastic change to your diet, make sure to consult with your dietician. A ketogenic diet may not necessarily suit you. If you are planning on adopting such a distinct diet plan, make sure you are well prepared and well-informed of the same.

If you are still unsure if this type of diet is good for you, you can book an appointment with our health testing clinic and diet and nutrition clinic where you will be able to check and have guidance on what is right for your own body and lifestyle as what suits on does not always suit another.