DIET DIGEST - KETO DIET

Need help finding the right diet? Well us at SportsPower Geelong thought we would help you out with our Diet Digest. This week's diet is the famous Keto diet.

What does Keto mean? Basically, the body can run on two different fuels. One is sugar from carbs in the food we eat and that's what most people today primarily use. Lets say an individual could be consuming bread, pasta, rice and potatoes etc. The second fuel is fat.

A Keto diet is a very low-carb diet, similar to the Atkins diet. The Keto diet is so low in carbs that the body has to switch to mainly using fat for fuel e.g. from real foods such as eggs, meat, avocado, butter, olive oil, nuts etc. Even the brain can become fuelled from fat.

When the body is out of sugar, fat is converted in the liver into energy molecules called ketones which fuel the brain. The diet that results in this is ketogenic, meaning it produces ketones.

Being fuelled mostly by fat, a state called “ketosis” occurs which has many benefits. Including, you become a fat-burning machine. It is perfect for weight loss without hunger burning fat 24/7 even when you’re sleeping because it gives you tonnes of energy so you will basically never run out.

The reason the Keto diet has become super popular in the last few years is not entirely new.

The foundation of the Keto diet is something old that you have definitely heard about a million times before! It is a strict low-carb diet, its a gluten free diet, similar to the paleo diet and very close to the Atkins diet. The basic idea is super simple and based on real whole foods. In summary, you simply must avoid most carbs like sugar, processed junk food, bread, pasta, rice, etc. The alternative you should consume is meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables and natural fats (avocado).

What’s different about the Keto diet?

• It is a supercharged low-carb diet where you can make sure you get the maximum benefits
• It is not used as a temporary fix
• Should become a long-term lifestyle change
• Not followed purely for weight loss, but for a balanced and optimal long-term health and wellbeing

When following the Keto diet, many people feel energised, full of mental clarity and have stable blood sugar levels. Most of an individuals’ hunger disappears, and cravings for sweet foods are reduced. People save time by being happy and content with fewer meals. They eat delicious food whenever they are hungry and there’s no need to count calories! Yay!