This article describes the principle of power, which is called "ketogenic diet" (or "keto diet"), based on the analysis of medical data. The method is tested on volunteers and provided a wide mass. The article painted the whole system, however, States a General principle with the rationale for each step, what is more important for self-awareness and adjusting your capabilities, time, condition, etc.
Recently widespread in the world received a carbohydrate-free diet (it is, briefly, keto diet). Its essence is to almost completely eliminate carbohydrates from the diet.
The fact that the lack of glucose derived from the breakdown of carbohydrates, the body needs to move to another energy source. It is this ready, because fat is the main source of energy savings for a "rainy day".
Carbohydrates are the main standard source of providing the body with energy, despite the fact that give less energy in kcal compared with fats(4kcal/g and 9kcal/g, respectively). Because the body considers them something of low value. Even "store" for them is not envisaged, in contrast to stored fat.
The main problem is how to give your body a good "kick" to it so it's understood what we want from him, and therefore moved to another state where it will oxidize fats. Designed for this keto diet.
Keto Diet — General information
Acute problem — overweight and obesity. This is one of the most pressing health and social problems. Overweight is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and many other pathologies.
The problem is steadily growing along with the global trend of increasing life span. Low living standards in some countries also contributes to obesity due to incorrect dietary patterns of the population. The fight against overweight and obesity is one of the main objectives of modern health systems in the world.
Nutritionists together with specialists from other fields offer a fairly rich set of methods and forms of struggle against this evil. Including using various diets. Over the last thirty years a growing interest in not quite usual way of controlling excess weight, known as the KETO diet (ketogenic diet). Let's see what this keto diet.
The most acceptable way to combat obesity is to limit the consumption of food. Have main medical criteria for safety and effectiveness.
The best results in this respect gives belkovosvazavatei low-calorie diet with energy value of about 800 kcal per day and protein content of not less than fifty grams. However, some experts believe the link between such diets undesirable and dangerous effects such as hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia, hyperlipidemia, cordierite, cholelithiasis, osteoporosis, etc.
And the greatest concern of experts is the possibility of a state of ketosis.
What is ketosis
Our bodies can obtain energy from three main groups of substances: carbohydrates, protein and fats. From the point of view of energy value, the greatest energy potential we have that fat (8-9,7 Kcal/g — the mean energy value of "pure" substances, i.e. without an accompanying ballast). Carbohydrates and proteins are less rich in energy (about 4 Kcal/g).
Apparently so the nature has disposed so, that our body is in a normal mode of existence uses the energy produced from carbohydrates and fats leaves in reserve for emergency cases.
If you limit the intake of carbohydrates to a certain level the body begins to use fats and proteins for the production of the required energy. As a result of fat metabolism formed the so-called ketone bodies. It's only three chemical compounds — acetoacetic acid (acetoacetate), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (β-hydroxybutyrate, β-hydroxybutyric acid, abbr. BOMC) and acetone.
The formation of ketone bodies, or ketogenesis, is a physiological process, i.e. an indispensable part of energy metabolism. In the process of this exchange we get the much-needed energy.
Real energy reserves in the body provided by glycogen, fat and protein structures. Glycogen storage a small, probably because of the biological inappropriateness of storage and make about 500 – 700 grams, which in energy terms amounts to 2 – 3 thousand Calories.
The biggest energy potential proteins of the organism, just because a lot of them. But to consume proteins for energy production is not (is lost is primarily muscle mass).
And finally fats. Although they are usually smaller than protein (normal ratio 1/2) but their energy capacity much higher than that of proteins. That's just to force the body to use fats for its energy purposes is not straightforward – because fats, in addition to its strategic value are also another physiological load: the synthesis and metabolism of hormones and bioactive substances, heat production, insulation and heat retention, giving the elasticity of soft tissues, fixation organs, and more.
And just keto diet allows you to force the body to enter a state of ketosis, i.e. to start to use fats for energy production.
Ketosis is a condition of the body when he is forced to switch to using fat to fill the energy needs. This condition is achieved, a significant limitation of carbohydrate intake.
The advantages of the ketogenic diet
The interest in ketogenic diets is growing. It is the ketosis is the most efficient mechanism of catabolism of adipose tissue. As the popularity of the diet and at the same time the acute problem of obesity is constantly increasing, the European Parliament instructed the Commission on food safety to consider the most popular and scientifically supported diets in Europe.
The team comprehensively reviewed about 15 low calorie diets (ACY) from the point of view of safety of use, indications, absolute and relative contraindications, side effects, complications, etc. Three chapters of the report of the panel was devoted to ketosis — ketosis and protein catabolism when using NAC, ketosis and calcium balance in NDC and ketosis and hyperuricaemia during NAC.
In September 2002 an expert report was approved at the meeting of the Commission of the European Parliament. The report stated that despite the existing contraindications, most diets are distributed through retail sale. Four diets used by medical institutions, and only one is applied under medical supervision. To prescribe such a diet can only be a doctor.
The first two phases of this diet are ketogenic, therefore, diet should not be accompanied by feeling of hunger, and to be quite effective.
Properly drafted keto diet is not dangerous, except when this diet is completely contraindicated.
So what are the benefits of the ketogenic diet:
- Fairly quick loss of excess weight;
- The reduction of blood sugar levels;
- Improving health;
- Improving the functioning of the brain;
- The lack of hunger compared to low-fat diets;
- The decline in "bad" cholesterol, as it does not seem strange;
- Lowering blood pressure if it is high;
- Normalization of insulin levels in diabetes of the 2nd type;
- Improving the condition of skin with acne, etc.
In addition ketone bodies provide about 80% of the brain needs energy and have psihologicheskimi properties of antidepressant effect.
The danger of the ketogenic diet
The main danger of the ketogenic diet is to overdo it. Some people are too limiting yourself to eating aiming for rapid weight loss. That can't happen. You need to follow your personal settings ("macros"), so as not to upset the balance. Otherwise, there is the possibility that the ketosis will go into a state of ketoacidosis, when ketone bodies in the body too much. This is a very dangerous condition, threatening the disruption of a number of organs and primarily your liver.
Ketosis is a mechanism of self-regulation when an increase in the number of ketone bodies "slows down" the process of their metabolism. But everything has a limit, so you need to stick to the established characteristics of the diet. Keto diet is contraindicated in diabetes of the 1st type (with this type of diabetes ketosis and ketoacidosis can develop on their own).
Also the keto diet is strictly not compatible with alcohol. In addition, you must avoid situations that can lead to dehydration is also dangerous.
How to enter ketosis
Keto diet is not one of those diets that you can start and finish when you want. The body needs some time to adapt to this diet and to enter into a state called ketosis. The process usually takes from 2 to 7 days and depends on personal characteristics of the organism, physical activity level and food type. If you want to quickly enter a state of ketosis, it is necessary to expend energy on an empty stomach, and limit the consumption of carbohydrates to 20 grams a day or less. It is necessary to monitor the amount of fluid intake.
For expedited entry into the state of ketosis you can use the method called fat fasting. Fat fasting involves intake of 1000 — 1200 kcal per day, with 80 — 90% of which comes from fat intake. It can last for a very short time, up to a maximum of 5 days (usually 2-3 days), long-term fat fasting can be dangerous for your health!
To control a state of ketosis you can use indicator strips that determine the level of ketone bodies in the urine. Initially this method was proposed for veterinary use, but it works also in the case of human beings. The accuracy of such measurements is small and, as a rule, these tests can only be judged on the presence of a condition of ketosis, or in his absence, but not to the degree of ketosis. So this indicator can be considered only as an auxiliary. Test strips can be purchased at pharmacies or over the Internet.
How to understand that you are in ketosis
As mentioned above the easiest (but not the cost!) method for measuring the degree of ketosis is to use special strips (something like litmus paper that can be used to measure the acidity of liquids). There are also more advanced methods of measuring the concentration of ketone bodies in the body.
Devices that measure the level of ketone bodies in the breath. Of course, they are more expensive than strips, but are much longer and the accuracy of the measurement significantly higher. The most accurate method of measurement (in the home) are devices that measure the level of ketone bodies in the blood. They act in the likeness of home glucometers used by diabetics to measure blood sugar levels. This is a very precise instrument, but, unfortunately, not cheap. If you stick to your personal recommendations, we hope with the help of our calculator KETO, you won't have the urgent need for instrumental measurements. Enough to stick to the diet and to assess their condition subjectively.
Conclusion
We talked about periods. Three periods are included in one round. If desired, these can be done up to 4-6. Then a rest is recommended, because this method is a fast way to lose weight is stressful to the body. Keto diet is not the way to torment your body. Opposite is a comfortable way to bring our body back to normal.
With all the recommendations, the results will be visible after the first round (not less than 1.5 kg, the participants of the experiment). The amount of water depending on weight, may vary, but may not be less than 1.5 liters per day of pure water (tea, coffee, etc. drinks count alone!).