What is a keto diet?

The keto diet is a nutrition system with a very low carbohydrate content and a high amount of healthy fats with moderate protein consumption. The amount of carbohydrates per day under this approach is usually limited to less than fifty grams, which forces the body to radically change its usual metabolic processes.

Deprived of its usual energy source in the form of glucose, the body triggers the process of ketosis, in which the liver begins to break down fats into ketone bodies, used by the brain and muscles as alternative fuel. It is this metabolic shift that attracts people striving to quickly reduce weight.

In the first days of following the keto diet, rapid weight loss is observed, but primarily excess water associated with glycogen in the liver and muscles is lost. Fat tissue begins to be burned later, as the body adapts to the new operating mode.

The keto diet has serious drawbacks and side effects, among which are the risk of fiber deficiency due to the ban on many fruits and grains, as well as the so-called keto flu. In the first weeks of adaptation, a person may feel weakness, dizziness, irritability, and headache.

Due to strict limitations and potential strain on internal organs, the keto diet is not suitable for long-term use as a permanent lifestyle. Before starting it, you should definitely consult with a specialized professional.