What is the Ketogenic Diet?
The Ketogenic diet is a strict low-carb, moderate protein, high-fat diet that is used to lose weight, and fight health problems such as diabetes.
High-fat you say? How does a high-fat diet help you lose weight or lower your blood sugars? Good question. The philosophy behind the ketogenic diet is that you fill yourself with minimal carbs and higher fats in order to teach your body how to become a fat-burning machine.
The ability of your body to burn fat as an alternative fuel is known as ketosis. This is a metabolic state in which your body produces molecules, or “ketones,” in the liver. The ketones act as a fuel when there is not enough fuel coming from an intake in carbohydrates. These ketones can be tapped for energy from all parts of the body including the muscles and brain.
NOTE: This is NOT the diabetic reaction called ketoacidosis. Here is an article that talks about the difference between ketosis and ketoacidosis.
Normally, the majority of your energy comes from glucose that is produced in the body once carbs are broken down. When your body is not consuming enough carbohydrates, it moves on to breaking down fats and creating ketones, which are used in the place of glucose as the primary source of energy for your body.
