Keto and Weight Loss
Let me start by saying that I’m not a proponent of the word DIET. It suggests a transient period of time where someone attempts to achieve a particular goal only to return to old habits shortly down the road. Lately, however, I’ve been getting a lot of questions on the ketogenic diet – and more specifically if it works equally well for women and men.
Keto is definitely NOT just another fad “diet”. In fact, it has been used by doctors to treat patients with serious illnesses (successfully may I add). In recent years the keto lifestyle has steadily been gaining more attention, due to how it promotes weight loss by forcing the body to burn fat for energy. More than ever before, a wider audience is now considering trying the keto diet, including those interested in benefits beyond weight loss. Examples include a reduced risk for diabetes, increased energy, protection against age-related neurological diseases and decreased back pain!
One problem with the keto diet, however, is that to date, research studies aimed at investigating its efficacy and safety have involved only men or animals (mainly mice). Some have been skeptical then that the keto diet can work equally well for women. Others question whether it’s necessarily a good idea for women to even try keto given the fact that women’s hormones tend to be more sensitive to most dietary and lifestyle changes.
According to experts in women’s health — following an alkaline ketogenic diet may be one of the most helpful lifestyle changes that both women AND men can make. Maintaining a good alkaline/acid ratio in the foods that we eat is vital to pH spectrum homeostasis.
The reason for this may lie in the fact that traditional keto can create an acidic environment which leads to increased inflammation, hormonal imbalance, anxiety and many other changes.
Of course, everyone has their own specific needs and digestion can be disturbed by manipulating or adding too many alkaline foods. Therefore it’s important to consider each person individually and plan meals accordingly.
If you have any questions about the ketogenic diet or about weight loss in general or are looking to create a plan for long-term sustained weight loss – click here to book an appointment with Dr. Michael Michna, ND.
