Ketogenic Diet Deconstructed: Should You Follow it?

According to Dr. Ritika Sammadar, Nutritionist at Max Health Care in New Delhi, "We do follow the Ketogenic diet in hospitals with respect to those suffering from epilepsy. It helps remarkably in tackling seizures.

 However, in my opinion, it is absolutely impossible for non-patients to undertake the diet. Not only is it difficult to follow, it may also have severe health implications and repercussions."

How does it WorkOur body uses carbohydrates to derive energy and glucose that is used by the brain as well as rest of the bodily functions. A low-carb diet would automatically alter the body's metabolism to make use of fats and protein to derive energy, leading to weight loss. The human body derives close to 60% of its energy from carbs on a daily basis. In the Atkins' diet, you depend chiefly on proteins, deriving 40% of your daily energy from that food group. In the Ketogenic diet, fats become the primary source of energy; here you are surviving on a mere 10% of carbs, 10-20% of protein and a whopping 70% intake of fats every day."Carbs empty the stomach easily, whereas fats stay there for longer. Prolonged and high intake of fats and protein enhances the satiety level; therefore a person ends up feeling fuller for long, thereby eating less," noted Dr. Sammadar.