Very few carbohydrates, lots of fats, lots of proteins: these are the basic principles of the ketogenic diet, a diet that, born as a therapeutic protocol against epilepsy, has become increasingly popular as a diet for weight loss. The variants of the keto diet, very fashionable today, are many, all united by the cutting of carbohydrates as a “trick” to ensure that the body uses fat as fuel instead, with the result of losing weight. But does it really work? And, above all, is it a safe diet or does it hide risks?

What is the History of the Keto Diet

The drastic reduction of carbohydrates in favor of other nutrients aims to force the body to use fat as an energy source, with the aim of promoting weight loss. The name “ketogenic” derives from the fact that this diet, by significantly reducing the intake of carbohydrates, leads to the formation of so-called ketone bodies.

History

The ketogenic diet began as a low-carbohydrate food plan aimed at reducing seizures in patients who did not respond to drugs, especially in children. Very low carbohydrate diets have been used, since the 1920s, for this very purpose. It was researchers and doctors at Johns Hopkins Medical Center who observed that these diets, in patients with epilepsy, helped reduce ailments such as seizure

Since the 1960s, these diets have been widely used for the treatment of obesity, but also in the presence of other pathological conditions such as diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, acne: it was in fact observed that, in addition to acting on seizures, they had positive effects on body fat, blood sugar, cholesterol and hunger levels.

The ketogenic diet has therefore increasingly established itself as a diet for losing weight, which exploits the consequences for the body of the reduction of carbohydrates and the increased consumption of fats not for therapeutic purposes, but to stimulate weight loss.

Among the most famous keto diets, there is that of Dr. Josh Ax, author of the bestselling book “Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, Boost Brain Health, and Reverse Disease” (“Ketogenic Diet: your 30-day plan to lose weight, balance hormones, improve brain health and fight disease “).

Ketogenic diet for weight loss: the principles

The ketogenic diet is based on a strong reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates, associated with a substantial increase in the consumption of fats and a high intake of proteins.

It therefore determines a substantial imbalance, almost an overturning, of the proportions between the macronutrients provided by the Mediterranean diet, which recommends an intake of carbohydrates equal to 45-60% of the daily energy, of fats equal to no more than 35% and of proteins equal to at 10-12%.

In the ketogenic diet, on the other hand, fats represent 70-75% of the total calories ingested, carbohydrates do not exceed 5-10% and proteins are around 15-25% of the daily caloric quota.

Unlike other low-carb diets, the keto diet does not therefore provide an excessive load of proteins, which are present in a greater extent than the Mediterranean diet, but whose increase is not as drastic as that of fats.