In regimented keto diets, only 10% of total calories per day (about a measly 20 grams!) come from carbs, 20% from protein, and a whopping 70% from fats. But is it suitable for long-term, sustainable weight loss and improved health? The jury's still out on that. But can it really help the average Joe or Joanne lose weight? Well, yes, in theory - especially ultra low-calorie versions.

Indeed, there's plenty of research to support ketogenic diets in the treatment of some devastating neurological conditions. In other words: It was used as an absolute last resort for families who felt otherwise hopeless in the face of a neurological disease, and under strict medical supervision. That's because my intro to this seemingly new plan was when I worked in a hospital, where ketogenic diets were specifically used as a medical nutrition therapy for pediatric patients with seizure disorders, for whom medication was no longer effective. 'Absolutely not - no way! That's IMPOSSIBLE!' I was caught saying one year ago. It's called the ketogenic diet, which aims to induce ketosis, a metabolic process in which we use fat for energy instead of the body's preferred source, sugar.įans of the low-calorie, high-fat diet tout having more energy, lower appetite, and pretty immediate weight loss - all while chowing down on bacon, heavy cream, and butter.īut when I first heard that the next weight-loss 'trend' was the ketogenic diet, I laughed out loud.

Nutritionists instead advocate following a Mediterranean-style eating plan to lose weight.Ĭelebrities like Halle Berry and Kourtney Kardashian swear by it, it ranked within the top 10 most Googled diets in 2017, and it's a clear Pinterest-favorite plan.Keto's restrictiveness makes it difficult to maintain in the long run, meaning any pounds lost will likely come back.Most research done on keto supports its use in treating neurological conditions there's little evidence behind its long-term effects on health and weight maintenance.The ketogenic diet advocates eating more fats and proteins in place of carbs, inducing a metabolic process called ketosis.

What is the keto diet