Why Keto May Work For Others – But Not You
January is the time of year when many are seeking to counter the effects of added indulgence during recent holidays. Social media and marketing are replete with advertisements of this diet and that one, all promising to provide the results you desire.
Many have started the ketogenic diet, and I have received a few messages from women who are frustrated. They are doing Keto with their husbands, who are losing weight, but they are gaining. I, too, have been in that frustrating situation in the past. What may be driving these different results?
The Ketogenic Diet
In case you aren’t sure what the Keto Diet is, let me share a brief outline. It is an eating plan that focuses on high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods. The goal is for the body to get into ketosis, where it burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. The focus is on consuming healthy fats, moderate protein, a few non-starchy vegetables, and no sugar.
Normally, our bodies run very well on glucose, which is produced when the body breaks down carbohydrates (sugar, grains, and vegetables). With a Keto Diet, the goal is to shift the body into burning fat, a process called ketosis. In this process, the body produces ketones in the liver that can be used by various tissues, including the brain, for energy.
Some experience challenges when they begin a Keto Diet. They may feel what is referred to as “Keto flu” – symptoms like headache, nausea, dizziness, or digestive issues – as their body works to make the shift. It usually lasts only a few days at the beginning, but makes the transition challenging.
Keto Diet Benefits
Ketosis is a secondary way of producing energy in the body. When your blood sugar drops because you’re not feeding your body carbs, fat is released from your cells, and the liver turns it into ketones.
The diet is not always an easy change. Yet, research has shown that this approach can provide benefits for those who are living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and even cancer.
The benefits are understandable when you note that poor glucose regulation is foundational for most of these diseases. Using a Keto Diet, even for a short period of time, can help the body turn things around to begin healing.
Out Of Ketosis
When those following a Keto Diet find themselves stalled in weight loss or gaining weight, it is generally because they are not in ketosis. There are several situations that can cause this:
- Having a cheat day where they eat flour-based foods, sweet potatoes or other starchy vegetables, or foods with added sugar.
- Experiencing chronic stress without taking steps to moderate it.
- Consuming excess caffeine, in form of coffee, tea, or energy drinks
- Consuming too much protein (more than 4 ounces per meal)
- Consuming artificial sweeteners
Another challenge for those desiring to follow a Keto Diet is not having a gallbladder. This hinders the body’s ability to digest the added fats being consumed.
The liver produces bile, which is collected in the gallbladder. It is then released as a bolus (larger dose) into the small intestine when fat is consumed.
The bile aids in emulsifying the fat to enable the body to digest and absorb it appropriately. Without a gallbladder, your body’s digestion is hindered, and added steps must be taken to support the breakdown of fats.
My Keto Challenge
My own experience with doing a Keto Diet came early in my training as a Functional practitioner. We had embarked on a month of Keto, and two weeks in, I was struggling to lose any weight, while my husband had lost quite a bit. Prior to starting the diet, I had collected a sample for a FoodSafe food sensitivity test, and the results arrived two weeks later.
To my great surprise, the test revealed that my body was reacting to whey (from dairy), eggs, and avocado – all of which I was eating daily on this diet. When I eliminated these foods completely, my body began to release weight, and I learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes, even foods that are deemed healthy can cause problems for an individual’s body.
I share this information to support your decision about this dietary plan. It is important that you know more than just what you can eat on the plan.
You need to know the potential challenges and hindrances for your success if you should choose this approach. And if you have embarked on a Keto Diet and struggled, you may now know what contributed to your struggle.
There is no one diet that fits everyone. Each of us is unique and may require different dietary approaches at different times in our lives.
Consider your own body and what approach fits it and your needs. If you would like to talk about your situation, I invite you to schedule a call with me.
