The Ketogenic Diet, or simply “Keto”, for those dropping hipster buzzwords or trying to sound healthy in their pursuit of weight loss or performance enhancement, has been somewhat of a fad diet that started gaining popularity around 2011 – 2013 and then resurfaced again in a big way around 2017 and beyond. However, for us TRUE health enthusiasts 😉 this diet can be a powerful healing tool in our utility belt. It is important to note that scientific research on Keto comes from a lot of different angles. Some users and researchers claim it to be somewhat of a miracle diet, while others caution against long term Keto use.
The Ketogenic diet gets its name from a natural metabolic process we all can tap into called “Ketosis”. Ketosis is triggered once there are elevated levels of ketones in our body, which are a byproduct (or chemical) produced in the liver. Ketone production is our body’s natural response when we don’t have enough insulin to convert glucose/sugar into energy. So… instead of burning sugar or glucose for fuel, the body begins to use fat instead. Fat is thus converted into ketones, which are then sent through your blood stream. In simple terms, low enough carb and protein intake makes your body search for another energy resource to burn. Thus, if enough fat is consumed in your diet then it is targeted for energy and ketone levels start to rise as this process takes effect. At this point I know what you are thinking… no wonder people LOVE chasing ketones/ketosis for weight loss, it does burn fat after all, right? Whether that’s true or not doesn’t really matter for us… but yes, I have tried keto for weight loss and was happy with the results – we can go over that in another post 🙂
From a healing perspective, Keto is thought to help prevent the progression of certain cancers, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Multiple sclerosis, as well as provide symptomatic reduction for many other chronic conditions. The Ketogenic diet is simple to approach in that it is mostly data driven and one can determine their level of ketone production through simple at home tests. Detection can be performed via breath, urine, or blood tests. However, urine tests are the most popular by far due to relative accuracy, availability, and cost. Keto’s primary healing properties stems from inflammatory suppression but may not be for everyone. Since the diet itself encourages A LOT of fat intake while maintaining very low levels of carbohydrates, this can cause a great deal of fatigue for those struggling with adrenal issues. Also, increased fat intake can cause some stress on the digestive system and may result in unwanted symptoms (such as cramping, diarrhea, etc.) until your body adjusts to increased amounts of fat.
As with all diets and chronic conditions, please consult your doctor before trying anything that encourages such radical changes to your routine. Keto may not be the best fit for everyone, but its best to discuss with your medical professionals before jumping in.
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