The keto diet is all the rage these days — that’s all everyone talks about in regard to weight loss. If you use social media, chances are you have seen the miraculous wonders of the keto diet show up on your feed. While there are many benefits of the keto diet, it is not the right choice for everyone. Believe it or not, there are a few disadvantages of this dietary plan that might make you think twice.
Although you should consult a professional to know if it is a suitable option for you, carry on reading this blog to learn the pros and cons of a keto diet.
What is a Ketogenic Diet?
The Keto diet, in simple terms, is an eating plan that contains mostly fats, a decent amount of protein, and a minimum amount of carbohydrates. When your body receives an ample number of fats combined with low carbs, it is bound to show some interesting outcomes. Short for the “ketogenic diet,” this eating plan is becoming increasingly popular since it produces drastic results in a short span of time.
Pros of the Keto Diet
The Keto diet works in an interesting manner; it forces your body to utilize both the stored and consumed fat for fuel rather than glucose. As a result, the ketosis process shows tremendous results in decreasing overall body fat. Below, you can read the benefits of the keto diet:
Fast Weight Loss
Since the keto diet is very low-carbohydrate with high-fat content, metabolic changes are activated in your body. This is because your body reduces its water content because you are not consuming enough carbohydrates, which leads to a temporary decrease in body weight.
1. Improves Satiety
Another reason why the keto diet is an effective weight loss method is that it boosts satiety. When you feel full and satisfied, you eat less, digest protein, and the effect of the hunger hormone decreases.
2. Reduced Fat in the Abdominal Area
Oftentimes, people hope to lose fat in the abdominal area. However, you cannot really target which fats go first. Still, a keto diet might help you lose weight in the abdominal area.
3. Improves Athletic Performance
Did you know keto diets can help improve your performance as an athlete? The low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet plan helps you control weight, reduce body fat, and maintain muscle mass — a perfect recipe for athletes!
4. Helps Manage Medical Conditions
Opting for a keto diet along with medical therapies can help treat medical conditions such as epilepsy.
Cons of the Keto Diet
The Keto diet, like any other eating plan, has its drawbacks. Therefore, keep the following in mind if you are researching the pros and cons of the keto diet:
1. Limited Food & Nutrient Options
Committing to a keto diet plan would mean eliminating multiple food options, including beans, legumes, most fruits, starchy vegetables, sugars, alcohol, and more. This could cause a deficiency of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin D, and more.
2. Side Effects
During the initial week or so, your body gets used to ketosis — which might lead to the onset of side effects. Moreover, if you fail to maintain the required amount of low carbohydrates, your body might fluctuate in and out of the fat-burning state. Also known as keto flu, the symptoms look like this:
- Exercise intolerance
- Gastrointestinal disturbances
- Insomnia
- Slight irritability
- Light-headedness
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Weakness
Other than this, it might contribute to impaired metabolism and central nervous system fatigue in athletes.
3. Costly & Inaccessible
The Keto diet involves healthy fats, which do not include bacon, beef, butter, or other food items high in saturated fat. Instead, your diet would include coconut oil, MCT oils, unsalted nuts, and other plant-based fats. The catch is — these foods are expensive compared to the commonly consumed foods. Furthermore, most of the foods that are a part of the keto diet are inaccessible.
Takeaway
There are various pros and cons of a keto diet, but your healthcare provider can guide you on if it is a suitable treatment for you. At Nova Bariatrics, we have a wide range of effective treatments that can help you with weight loss. Contact us now at (469) 639-0953. You can also visit our team at 1081 Kinwest Pkwy #110, Irving, TX, 75063.