The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, high-protein, low-carb diet that forces the body to burn fat as energy instead of carbs. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted in to glucose as energy. However, within limited carbohydrate intake, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. These ketone bodies replace glucose as the main energy source for your body. Ketones are a more efficient energy source. Thus the ketogenic diet alters the body’s metabolic function by retraining the body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates.
Also, the ketogenic diet is increasingly being recommended as a plan to help those with neurological diseases and injuries including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and strokes. The keto diet helps the brain by reducing inflation and promoting anti-oxidants. Under the keto diet, no more than 50g of carbs should be consumed daily. Sources of carbohydrates should come from whole foods like vegetables, dairy, nuts, etc. and never refined carbohydrates such as pasta. Meals are comprised mostly of protein.
Typically, people following the keto diet follow a 60/35/5 rule in which 60% of daily calories should come from fats from whole foods, 35% from protein and 5% from carbs. This is compared to the typical Western diet, which consists of 65% carbs. Just remember on the keto diet to stick to healthy fats! There is a difference between fats that are chemically created and that are from whole foods, like oil that comes from coconuts! Healthy fats provide a steady flow of energy with no volatility in insulin, which means no mood swings or cravings.