A ketogenic diet is a low-carb diet that aims to transform the body into a fat burning machine. When compared to a traditional calorie counting it is found to be more effective at improving body composition and clinical health markers.
Findings published in the online in the journal Nutrition and Diabetes, show that following a four-month comparison study diet in weight loss and the reduction in waist circumference that the ketogenic diet fared better than a traditional calorie counting method.
Ironically, research suggests that the ketogenic diet results in lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that makes you feel hungry. Ergo, you are less inclined to feel hungry between meals when you reduce your carbs.
Even better news for diabetics, the ketogenic diet is also proven to have a greater impact in lowering blood glucose levels, in part because carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels. Also, in terms of diabetic medicine, researchers noted that ketognic dieters are able to reduce their anti-diabetic medicines more than traditional calorie counters.
The diet gets its name from a process called ketosis. Ketosis occurs when your body lacks energy derived from glucose (carbs), so as a consequence uses stored fats for energy resulting in weight loss.
A 2005 study published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism appraised the ketogenic diet in 21 people with type 2 diabetes over 16 weeks. Blood sugar control improved in 16 percent, on average, including a weight loss of more than 6 percent. Even more remarkable 17 of the participants were able to discontinue or reduce their diabetes medications.
The ketognic diet was originally conceived in the 1920s at the John Hopkins hospital to help combat epilepsy in children when epilepsy medicines failed to work. Because fat makes your meals more palatable and results in making you feel full faster.
Ironically, research suggests that the ketogenic diet results in lower levels of ghrelin, a hormone that makes you feel hungry. Ergo, you are less inclined to feel hungry between meals when you reduce your carbs.
Just be aware that burning too much fat can result in a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis, which results in too much acid accumulating in your blood. Anyone on a ketognic diet needs to monitor the ketone in their blood. Because it spills into your urine, it can be measured using a ketone urine strip. Large amounts of ketones is a danger sign. It can result in excessive thirst, fatigue, frequent urination and confusion.
