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It seems every second person is now following keto (short for ketogenic diet) and raving about the outcomes. So what is it, how does it work, and is it worth considering? Or is it just another one of “those” diets, you know the ones.

What does it mean to go Keto?

Basically, it means cutting carbs. On a ketogenic diet you limit daily carbohydrate consumption to under 50g per day (although there are different versions of this, some even stricter) and after 3-4 days you wind up in ketosis. But it’s not quite that simple either. You also need to monitor your intake of protein, as too much will stop the process working. Essentially you need to consume the majority of your calories from fat, around 80% of your total intake.

Ketosis is where your body converts from using “glucose” as its primary fuel source, and instead begins oxidising fat (breaking it down and using for energy) leaving you with ketones in your blood.

This type of diet has been used for decades for kids suffering from epilepsy as it can help reduce the occurrence of seizures. It’s only now that people are turning to ketosis as a weight loss strategy.

What foods do you need to avoid?

Obviously carbohydrates, sugar, and anything that converts to glucose. Think fruit, bread, rice, pasta, cereals, legumes, crackers and any form of sweet indulgence. When you think that just two slices of bread will exceed the maximum allowed volume of carbohydrate for one day, you get an idea how strict you need to be.

Why the hype?

Fancy being able to eat huge amounts of fat and at the same time lose weight and supposedly improve your health. That’s the attraction when it comes to the ketogenic diet.

Yes, it does help people lose weight, despite laying on the butter, cream, oils and juicy cuts of steak.

It even helps suppress your appetite, as this is one of the effects of being in ketosis, making it even more attractive to those desperate to lose weight!

What are the long-term outcomes?

Ok so here is where we throw in a dash of reality. Unfortunately, despite all the claims regarding the weight loss benefits, the longer term (12 month) trials comparing Ketosis to more traditional low fat diets, there is no significant difference in achieved weight loss. Dang. There are also exceptionally high dropout rates for those following a ketogenic diet, which demonstrates just how challenging the diet is over a longer period of time.

Surprising to many, ketosis appears to help when it comes to reducing total cholesterol, blood triglycerides and is associated with increased levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. This is all despite the large amounts of fat consumed.

What have you got to lose?

Possibly your bugs. That’s the biggest concern when it comes to the ketogenic diet. What are the long-term effects on gut microbiome? More and more research is showing just how important a healthy microbiome is to improving immunity and reducing inflammation – a precursor to many forms of illness. Interestingly it seems the gut microbiome also plays a key role in weight management, although the mechanisms are still not entirely understood.

Maintaining a healthy microbiome is far more involved than simply taking a daily probiotic supplement. Dietary fibre, prebiotics and probiotics naturally produced in fermented food are all important role players. A diet missing wholegrains, legumes and fresh fruit will limit your ability to support your microbiome health, with the full long-term implications still unknown.

The bottom line…

If you are looking for long-term sustainable results, that will improve all areas of health and that protects your gut health, ketosis is not the best option. For those with high cholesterol, following a Mediterranean dietary pattern will likely be just as or even more effective.

There are still too many unanswered questions when it comes to the long-term outcomes of ketosis. When used for weight loss, 12 month outcomes appear modest at best, and dropout rates are high.

It seems Ketosis is just another one of “those” diets, you know the ones…

Have you tried the KETO diet? Tell us in the comments below.

 

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  • Everything in moderation. Life is way too short to not allow yourself to have things.

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  • I am not interested in these types of fad diets. I think eating healthy variety of foods all in moderation is the way to go. Besides you only live once and I love food way too much to miss out on some things!!

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  • I’ve heard the buzz too and even researched a little. But then I just put it down to another fad diet and one that will disappear as quickly as it appeared.

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  • It’s just another hype I think. I think, as long as you eat a sensible and healthy diet you’re on the right track.

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  • I have inadvertently followed this diet all my life as I don’t like bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, etc. but I do eat a lot of fruit and veg.

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  • I have a friend on this diet and she loves it – she’s coming up to her 12 month keto versary and is determined to have lost 25kg by this benchmark – she’s 6 kg short so is now combining this with intermittent fasting – I’m just not sure how good this is for anyone in the long run but each to their own -it’s taking me a bit longer but for me – an eat less move more approach has been the way to go.

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  • I’ve also heard that the older you are the harder to affects your body!

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  • As with all diets, what works for one person may not work for another.

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  • I’m not one for diets. I believe in everything in moderation.

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  • I follow a Ketogenic lifestyle. I am actually monitored and mentored from a GP. I have my blood work done every 3 months. I have been eating this way for the last 6 months. I feel great, my blood results have all improved, I no longer need my blood pressure medication.
    If you are thinking about changing to this way of eating my advice would be to find a supportive doctor and do some research.
    Please do not bother to slam me with negative comments as I will not bother to read them or justify why I choose this lifestyle. ????

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  • This is an extremely dangerous diet, leading to a quick heart attack and other diseases. Whoever started this diet is just plain crazy. Why cut out fruit which is one of the best healing foods you can eat and your body loves it, we were meant to eat fruit. Consuming large portions of fat will feed viruses and destroy the liver in the long run, read “Liver Rescue” by Anthony William.

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  • It’s a hard diet though it really does have fast benefits if your looking to diet though you will notice your craving sugars and carbs for a few days and then if your exercising you’ll see how fast it really works also you don’t have to stay on the diet you can go on for a while then off it too

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  • Massive pass from me. I would be depressed if I had to miss out on all of those delicious carbs.

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  • I have heard that you have to be really careful about your cholesterol

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  • No I never tried the Keto diet and never plan to do so :)


    • It doesn’t sound like a healthy diet to me.

    Reply

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