Does the Keto Diet Really Help You Lose Weight?

Rose S. | July 1, 2019 | Clean & Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight Loss

Here’s a quick look at how and why so many people are turning to the keto diet to help them lose weight…

Millions of people struggle to lose weight each and every year. If you’re one of them, you have probably searched high and low looking for a diet that can support you on your weight loss journey. While there is no “quick fix,” there are many different diets out there, and many of them are effective. If you haven’t found that “right fit” yet, don’t give up! It’s just a matter of finding a style of eating that suits your lifestyle and is easy to adapt to.

Many people find that the the ketogenic diet is effective in helping them lose weight without feeling too restricted. However, the low-to-no carb approach of the ketogenic diet does mean limiting sugar, bread, and other high-carb foods that many of us consider to be staples in our daily lives.

Limiting carbs is believed to be an effective way to lose weight because it makes your body enter a state of ketosis where it goes from carb-burning to fat-burning. This means your body will go from using the carbs you eat as its primary fuel source to using the fat you have stored as its primary fuel source. In time, the theory is that you will see faster and more consistent fat loss thanks to this switch. But it won’t come without sacrifice.

Simply cutting carbs is not enough to lose weight and stay healthy on the ketogenic diet. While it’s a big first step, you also need to make sure you balance your fat and protein intake. Many people go onto the ketogenic diet and end up eating far too much protein from meat sources. Or, they end up over-eating dairy products like milk and cheese. Overeating any one part of the food pyramid will lead to nutritional deficiencies, so it’s important that you find a balance in your diet.

The primary disadvantage of the ketogenic diet to some is that it causes you to cut out most if not all of the fruits you eat. This can lead to people eating even less healthily, especially if you aren’t a huge fan of vegetables. So, the secret to losing weight with keto isn’t just cutting carbs. It’s finding a balance between fat and protein, and making sure you still eat plenty of natural and healthy whole foods. Opt for plenty of green vegetables and try to stay away from unhealthy and unnatural fat sources such as hydrogenated oils and highly-processed trans fats.

If you follow all of this advice and keep your eye on the big picture, you have a good chance of finding success and losing weight on the ketogenic diet.