ketogenic diets

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The ketogenic diet has historically been used to treat epilepsy and other conditions. The idea is simple - if you limit carbohydrates in food, the body will start metabolizing fatty acids into ketone bodies. This mimics a starvation state, and triggers the body to metabolize fat. So, by eating a diet of protein and fat, you can go into ketosis and lose weight.

In theory, this works quite well. In practice, the devil is in the details. So much depends on which proteins and fats you choose. While a beef, bacon, and butter ketogenic diet can allow you to lose a lot of weight quickly, it can also send your LDL cholesterol sky high and make it more likely to have a heart attack later in life. On the other hand, a plant-based keto diet of nuts, seeds, olive oil, tofu, and avocado will achieve both the goals of weight loss and vascular health. 

If you are interested in trying a ketogenic diet of any sort, talk to your doctor. Particularly if interested in an animal-based keto diet. You'll need more frequent cholesterol checks. 

So, like everything else, the devil is in the details. 

For information on a plant-based ketogenic diet, click here.