Ketogenic Diet

Definition

A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan designed to make the body use fat for fuel, rather than carbohydrates.

Scientific / Technical Definition

The ketogenic diet is a nutritional strategy designed to induce a metabolic state known as ketosis, where the body becomes highly efficient at burning fat for energy while producing ketones in the liver as fuel. This typically involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake to about 5-10% of daily calories, with fats making up approximately 70-80% and protein the remainder.

Benefits

• May lead to weight loss and reduced body fat.
• Can improve blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.
• May increase levels of good HDL cholesterol.
• May provide neuroprotective benefits, potentially useful for neurological disorders like epilepsy.

Examples

• Avocados
• Olive oil
• Fatty fish like salmon
• Nuts and seeds
• Butter

Additional Information

• Known issues: The diet can cause initial side effects such as constipation, headache, and fatigue, commonly referred to as the 'keto flu'. It may not be suitable for individuals with certain health conditions, such as pancreatitis or liver disease.

Related Terms

• Low-carbohydrate Diet
• Atkins Diet
• Ketosis
• Intermittent Fasting

References

• The Ketogenic Diet: Evidence for Optimism but High-Quality Research Needed
• Review of Current Evidence and Clinical Applications of Ketogenic Diets in Obesity
• Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors