Unless you were lost in the Himalayas for the last few years, I bet you've heard of the keto diet. In fact, you probably have a friend or family member who has transformed their body like magic with this diet.
But in case you didn’t know or just forgot, here’s a quick recap. A keto diet is an eating style where you consume almost no carbs, moderate amounts of protein, and high amounts of dietary fat. So, you’ll be eating tasty high-fat meals like ribeye steak with roasted garlic and butter.
“Why would you do that?” you may wonder. Well, a very low carb intake puts you into a state called “ketosis.” You see, under regular circumstances, your body relies for the most part on glucose (the stored form of carb).
When you minimize your carb intake, however, there's not enough glucose available for your body to fuel all its functions. And because some tissues like your brain cannot use fat for fuel, your body needs an alternative energy source to stay alive.
That’s where ketones come in. Ketones are chemicals produced in your liver when glucose is scarce. Various tissues like your brain can use these ketones for fuel when glucose is absent. That's an excellent outcome because, otherwise, you would die.
Now, when your body uses primarily ketones and fatty acids for fuel, you're in a state called “ketosis.” That’s invaluable because...
Ketosis Gives You an “Unfair” Advantage on Your Fat Loss Goals
Want proof? Here’s what a meta-analysis of thirteen randomized controlled trials published in the British Journal of Nutrition concluded:
“Individuals assigned to a VLCKD [very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet] achieve a greater weight loss than those assigned to an LFD [low-fat diet] in the long term; hence, a VLCKD may be an alternative tool against obesity.”
In fact, two randomized controlled trials found the keto diet leads to more belly fat loss and produces up to three times as much weight loss as a high-carb, low-fat diet!
That’s right. Those who followed a keto diet lost more fat while eating tasty foods like bacon, scrambled eggs with hot sauce, BBQ wings, and pork rinds nachos. But why is a keto diet superior for fat loss?
Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Jan
There Are Seven Reasons Why the Keto Diet Is the Holy Grail for Fat LossReason #1
Significantly increases fat burning
Insulin is the enemy of fat loss. Elevated levels of this hormone blunt fat burning, all while shuttling energy in your bloodstream into your fat cells.
On a keto diet, however, insulin levels drop, which not only benefits your health but also significantly boosts fat burning.
Reason #2
It’s simple and easy to follow
The keto diet is very simple to follow, and you’ll enjoy yourself as you diet. After all, what’s not to love about losing fat while being able to eat tasty, high-fat foods like bacon, eggs, cheese, and steak?
Reason #3
Hunger cravings will fade
I'll tell you a secret. You'll never lose fat and keep it off on any diet that leaves you hungry. Hunger is an irresistible force. Sooner or later, hunger always defeats willpower.
That’s why nearly all diets fail. Eventually, you can’t take the cravings anymore, and you’ll regain all that lost weight by binging. On top of that, you’ll likely gain some extra weight to boot.
The keto diet, however, brings hunger to a dead-end stop. When you go keto, you won’t feel hungry. That's why this eating style is superior for losing fat and keeping it off.
In others words, you’ll not only look fantastic in the “after” photo but also in the “after the after” photo.
Reason #4
You don’t have to exercise to reap the benefits
You do not have to work out to lose fat on the keto diet. However, since following a keto diet will boost your energy levels drastically after around one week, you will probably become more active, which may motivate you to exercise. That said, you lose fat quickly, whether you’re active or not.
Reason #5
It’s healthy and safe
The keto diet is not just a fat loss diet; it's also a health diet. In fact, it's probably much safer than the way you eat now. Want proof?
Well, various studies show the keto diet can reduce your heart disease risk by elevating levels of the "good" HDL cholesterol, decreasing blood triglycerides levels, and raising blood pressure.
And research also shows the keto diet can boost mental health; reduce depression; act therapeutically against various neurological conditions; prevent, manage, and even reverse type 2 diabetes; and maybe even prevent and fight some types of cancer.
Reason #6
You’ll lose weight like clockwork
Right after you begin your customized keto meal plan, you'll start to lose fat automatically. You don't even have to think about nutrition all the time. In fact, since you'll never be hungry while following this diet, you would probably forget you were on a diet if you weren't losing fat so fast.
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