Is the ketogenic diet to be avoided? According to an American nutritionist, yes, especially if it is used only to lose weight. Mentioned in the news because it would quickly lose weight being a high-protein diet, in reality this food plan is a therapy aimed at treating certain diseases and which, therefore, could also involve serious risks if used haphazardly.
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Ketogenic diet? Too many proteins and almost absent carbohydrates: experts warn
The ketogenic diet, or keto, is basically a low-carb diet that tends to drastically reduce carbohydrates with the aim of returning the body to a particular metabolic state similar to that obtained by fasting.
Unlike, however, other high-protein diets, which focus, in fact, on proteins, a keto plan is focuses on fat, which provides up to 90% of the daily calories. And it's not the kind of diet to try as an experiment, experts say.
“The keto diet is mainly used to reduce the frequency of seizures in children
Warns dietician Kathy McManus, director of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard's Brigham and Women Hospital.
How it works and what is eaten on the ketogenic diet
As discussed extensively, the keto diet aims to "force" the body to use a different type of fuel. Instead of relying on sugar (glucose) derived from carbohydrates (such as grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits), the ketogenic diet is based on ketone bodies, a type of fuel that the liver produces from stored fat.
In this diet, the intake of carbohydrates is reduced to less than 20-50 grams of carbohydrates per day and then, for the rest of the day, only the intake of fat is expected to reach the metabolism necessary for the state of ketosis. . An example is that of a diet of about 2 thousand calories that includes 165 grams of fat, 75 grams of protein and only 40 grams of carbohydrates.
As for the grassi, the keto diet allows some "good" unsaturated fats in the daily regime such as, for example, walnuts, almonds, olive oil, but also avocado and tofu. But the problem is that the consumption of saturated fats from oils (palm, coconut), lard, butter and cocoa butter are encouraged in high quantities.
As far as proteins are concerned, there is often no distinction between lean proteins, called “noble” ones, and proteins with a very high content of saturated fats, such as those of red meat. All carbohydrates are also banned, including pasta, vegetables and fruit (for example, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, peppers, onions, garlic, mushrooms, cucumbers and courgettes are allowed. celery, cauliflower and broccoli).
The ketogenic diet, all the risks
A ketogenic diet has numerous risks. At the top of the list is the excessive presence of saturated fat. Kathy McManus recommends keeping saturated fat at no more than 7% of daily calories due to the link to heart disease. And indeed, the keto diet is associated with an increase in "bad" LDL cholesterol, which in turn is linked to heart disease.
Other potential risk risks include:
- deficiency of nutrientsIf you don't eat a reasonable variety of vegetables, fruits and grains, you could be at risk of deficiency in micronutrients, including selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and C
- liver problems: With so much fat to metabolize, the diet could worsen liver health
- kidney problems: The kidneys help metabolize proteins and the keto diet can overload them (the current recommended dose for protein is on average 46 grams per day for women and 56 grams for men)
- constipationThe keto diet is low in fibrous foods such as grains and legumes
- fatigued mind and mood swings: the brain needs sugars from healthy carbohydrates to function, low-carb diets can cause confusion and irritability
You may also be interested in the following diets:
- DIET OF THE GLYCEMIC INDEX
- DIET FOR DIABETICS
- ICE CREAM DIET
- DIET OF LEMON AND GRAPEFRUIT
- HYPOCALORIC DIET
- SLIMMING DIET
- VEGETARIAN DIET
- DIGIUM MIME DIET
- ZONE DIET
- DIET DISSOCATED
- DIET OF MINESTRONE
- SLIMMING WITH GINGER
