Drinks and alcohol What can I drink? Which artificial sweetener should Keto blueberry muffins with cream cheese choose? This encourages the body to get its energy from burning body fat which produces an energy source known as ketones. Note that it is important that you speak to your doctor if you are considering following the diet as precautions may need to be taken before starting.

This will determine the nutrient density of the ketogenic diet as well as how to follow it, as different foods will have different effects on insulin and blood sugar levels. Note that some of the types of ketogenic have been designed specifically for people that are athletes or are otherwise working out very hard and often. Benefits of a ketogenic diet Ketone bodies produced from burning fat for fuel have been shown to have potent weight loss effects, help lower blood glucose levels and reduce people’s reliance on diabetes medication. In addition to that, there has been a lot of interest in therapeutic ketosis for other long-term conditions, such as cancer, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Do I need to measure ketones?

Significant weight loss and blood glucose control benefits can be derived from even a mild state of ketosis. Side effects of a ketogenic diet With every change in the diet comes an adaptation period. With a ketogenic diet, the adaption is significant as the body has to switch its fuel source from glucose to fat. This usually goes away within about four weeks. 1 diabetes, or very late-stage, insulin-dependent, type 2 diabetes, can’t produce any insulin and make very high amounts of ketones without stopping to prevent an effective state of starvation, which can lead to that person becoming critically ill. Keto-adaption is a state, achieved through significant reduction of carbohydrate where the body changes from relying on glucose as its main source of energy to relying on ketones from fat burning. This is another good reason to ensure you have spoken with your doctor before starting the diet.

Safety on a ketogenic diet There is generally a lack of long-term studies into the safety and effectiveness of ketogenic diets and, this is why a doctor’s opinion is needed before starting the diet. There are a few groups of people for whom a ketogenic diet may not be suitable, or at the very least, warrants close supervision. These include pregnant women, children, people at risk of hypoglycemia, people with a very low BMI, and those with conditions that a ketogenic diet may exacerbate. Find support, share experiences and get exclusive member cookbooks, giveaways and freebies. NHS certified education, meal plans and coaching to lose weight, reduce medications and improve your HbA1c.

This article is about a dietary therapy for epilepsy. For information on ketogenic diets as a lifestyle choice or for weight loss, see Very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet. A test strip is compared with a colour chart that indicates the degree of ketonuria. Normally carbohydrates in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is important in fueling brain function. The original therapeutic diet for paediatric epilepsy provides just enough protein for body growth and repair, and sufficient calories to maintain the correct weight for age and height. In 1994, Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams, whose son’s severe epilepsy was effectively controlled by the diet, created the Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies to further promote diet therapy. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders after migraine and stroke, affecting around 50 million people worldwide.