The ketogenic diet has been described as the biggest diet sensation - ever - in the nutrition industry. So it's worth looking into for that reason alone.
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A ketogenic diet is very high in fat (about 75%), moderate in keto fat loss protein (about 20%), and very low in carbohydrates (about 5%). It's intended to put the body into a state of ketosis. In ketosis, the body breaks down fat to create ketones for energy, rather than burning glucose.
Benefits of Keto?
Ketosis benefits we typically hear about are weight loss, increased HDL ("good") cholesterol, and improvement in type 2 diabetes, as well as decreased epileptic seizure activity and inhibition of cancerous tumor growth.
Small studies have shown promise for women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), an insulin-related condition. This may be due to its possible (not conclusive) ability to reset insulin sensitivity.
Everything Old Is New Again?
The current Keto diet is not the first time we've targeted carbs as a dietary villain. Medical trials with low-carb eating and/or fasting go back to the 1850s and even earlier.
In 1967, Stillman introduced The Doctor's Quick Weight Loss Diet, featuring essentially nothing but low-fat protein and water.
Next came the Atkins diet in 1972, high in fat and protein, low in carbs. It helped with weight loss and also with diabetes, hypertension and other metabolic conditions. It's still popular today.
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