What is the Ketogenic Diet?

An Introduction to Ketogenic Diet

A Ketogenic Diet refers to the natural bodily process called Ketosis in which fat stores are burnt for energy rather than the sugar and carbs in the food consumed by the Ketogenic dieter during the day. Consuming fewer carbs prompts the release of ketones, the active hormone in Ketosis. Carbohydrates create an easy and quick energy source for the body; they are also comfortably converted by the body into fat reserves. In contrast however, protein and other fatty food groups provide an energy supply that is not as readily converted to body fat and is used as an immediate source of energy.

Historical Background

The thought process behind this diet stems back to our evolutionary past, where our ancestors would survive on meats, seeds, berries and the occasional seasonal fruit. We have evolved and became accustomed to this balance of food. It was only with the advent of grains and farming (requiring a fixed living location) that the industrial/agricultural revolution begun and we started to consume complex carbohydrates. Not only this but farming became common practice meaning humans were forced to settle in single place to tend to cattle and crops. Ketosis returns us to our hunter gatherer past, a diet and lifestyle that our bodies are more evolutionarily adapted and accustomed to.

Do you still need to hit the gym?

It is therefore not essential to exercise during this form of dieting as the concept of calories in and energy out is shown to be redundant by the impressive weight loss afforded by a Ketogenic diet. Assuming portion control is in order, calorie counting is not necessary and creating the correct energy expenditure is also superfluous. Weight will be lost naturally, while Ketosis and its inherent processes allow weight loss to thrive, despite the lack of increased energy expenditure.

Other ways to initiate ketosis

There are alternative approaches to be able to enter the process of Ketosis, such as eat an extremely low calorie diet, thus starving your body and forcing the Ketogenic side effects to appear. Ketosis can also be initiated by a continued regime of extreme exercise. However, both of these approaches to Ketogenic dieting and the process of Ketosis are far less sustainable when seeking to retain your weight loss. They are also clearly more time consuming and require far more planning and commitment.

A Ketogenic diet plan will be rich in Ketogenic diet foods giving the body the highest chance of achieving and retaining a state of Ketosis. Depending on the individual, Ketosis can arrive at different stages however once pushed into Ketosis by the Ketogenic meals, you can comfortably remain in Ketosis with no negative side effects. However whilst awaiting the arrival of Ketosis, the dieter may endure headaches and a lack of energy.

Meal Samples

Due to its requirement for high protein, many meals are centered around meat and beans, and snacks contain a variation of seeds and nuts. A sample day on the ketogenic diet would include a breakfast of almonds and oats, porridge style, then a lunch of peas and pancetta soup. Follow that up with a scrumptious dinner of beef in peppercorn. If you feel peckish in between meals, you can try a peanut and pecan bar or a raspberry nut bar. This certainly is not the kind of diet you’ll feel like you’re suffering through in order to stick to it.

This form of dieting is a natural way to improve the speed at which your body burns fat, all while eating a normal amount without having to cut out all of the foods you like.