“Those with pre-existing medical conditions such as cardiac problems, liver or kidney disease may need to be cautious,” she says. Is the keto diet safe?Ĭlark recommends caution to those with underlying health conditions.
Have a look at our guide to ' what fruits can you eat on keto' for a list of low-carb, keto-friendly fruits and keto diet foods: what to eat and what to avoid. “It is now being trialed as a treatment for other conditions such as chronic pain, cancer and neurological conditions.” “The keto diet was originally developed for the treatment of drug-resistant child epilepsy and was designed to be done under medical supervision,” Clark says, of the keto diet’s original purpose. It is also worth noting that the keto diet wasn’t designed to be used for weight loss, although a World Obsesity Review (opens in new tab) study indicates it is increasingly being used for this purpose. “Compliance is a key factor - ultimately what is easy to follow for the long term,” she says. So perhaps keto is a good option for those trying to induce extreme weight loss, if under medical supervision, but how sustainable is that over time? Clark indicates that the downside of the keto diet is that it is difficult to follow for any extended period.
However, 12 months down the line, weight loss results between low carb and low fat approaches are similar.” “Some people find the satiation achieved with higher protein and fat intakes useful as a weight management tool. “Keto diets are associated with quicker initial weight losses, mainly due to the loss of water as carbohydrate stores in the body are used up,” she says. The review also summarizes that the diet can be useful from a period of a few weeks (to induce a state of ketosis) to several months, but advises caution when reintroducing carbohydrates into subjects' diets.Ĭlark agrees that the keto diet can be a useful weight loss tool.
The benefits included reduction in hunger in obese adults and potential to improve fat oxidative metabolism, which could reduce overall weight. One review in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (opens in new tab) indicated that the keto diet could be beneficial in the treatment of obesity when implemented under the supervision of a doctor. Related: Which vegetables are low in carbs?.Related: Keto diet vs low carb: what's the difference?.A review in the journal Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (opens in new tab) indicates that the effect of sugar on mood can be detrimental and cause feelings of fatigue, sometimes as soon as 30 minutes after consuming carbohydrates. When in ketosis, the body begins metabolizing its stores of fat and producing ketones, which it uses as energy instead of its usual preferred source - carbohydrates.Īs the keto diet removes most dietary carbohydrates, including simple sugars, people on the keto diet may be less likely to have ‘sugar crashes’ as their carbohydrate intake is very low. How does the keto diet work?īy replacing carbohydrates with fat sources the body goes through a physiological change and enters a state called ketosis. “This rules out all starchy foods like bread, rice or pasta, fruit, some vegetables, milk and most yogurts, and foods containing added sugar such as biscuits, sweets and cakes,” she says. Related: Do you need to eat meat to get protein?Ĭlark added that the keto diet’s low carbohydrate nature cuts out a lot of ‘core’ foods.