The Pros and Cons of the Keto Diet
The ketogenic (“keto”) diet has emerged almost as a fad diet, with many followers highlighting their muscle and weight transformation on social media. Unlike other diet products and programs, the keto diet has many benefits to health and well being. However, the diet is also associated with various risks that followers need to know.
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Pros:
Reduces inflammation
The keto diet can help to reduce inflammation significantly. The diet consists of foods that are rich in ketones. When working out, your body produces less free radicals when burning ketones than glucose. Reduced inflammation expedites energy production and helps the body to function efficiently.
Better Fat Burning
A ketogenic diet puts your body in a state of ketosis, which means that your body burns fat more efficiently. Therefore, the diet plays a significant role in weight loss. Excess body fat is associated with various diseases, accumulation of toxins and hormonal imbalance.
Mental Clarity and Sharpness
Following the keto diet will make you feel sharper and with better mental clarity. The diet helps to minimize anxiety, depression and reduced cognitive function.
Energy Boost
A ketogenic diet helps to increase energy levels in the body because it lowers inflammation. In addition, ketones produce more energy per molecule than glucose.
Cons:
Deprives the Body of Sugar
Whether you are working out at the gym or studying, your ability to focus determines your success in what you do. One of the effects of a low-carb diet is sluggishness, especially during the first few weeks. The keto diet may deprive the brain the glucose it needs to function well.
Not the Best Diet for Active People
People who lead very active lives may want to avoid living solely on the keto diet. The diet may negatively affect performance in endurance competitions.
The benefits of the keto diet have been proven. However, the ability of the diet to provide long-term positive effects has not been established.
