benefits of trying the keto diet this year

The food you eat regularly can significantly affect your health. Regardless of your workout's intensity and routine, your efforts won’t be benefitted if you don’t pay attention to what you eat. Moreover, consuming excessive amounts of processed foods can make you more susceptible to weight gain and other serious health conditions, such as heart diseases, stroke, and diabetes.

If you want to turn over a new leaf and start eating healthily, consider trying out the ketogenic or the keto diet. This diet requires you to consume high-fat and very low-carb meals. It works by replacing your carbohydrate intake with fat. This process will put your body into a metabolic state known as ​ketosis​ and becomes more effective in burning fat and turn it into energy.

Some of the benefits you can gain from the keto diet are listed below:

1. Supports Weight Loss

A lot of people are extremely weight conscious; hence, they experiment with different kinds of diet plans. If you face the same dilemma and were unsuccessful with your efforts to lose weight in the past, the keto diet can surely help. This type of diet is known to support weight loss in a lot of ways.

When you follow a keto diet, you will be required to eat foods that contain reduce hunger-stimulating hormones. Over time, this can result in faster metabolism and reduced appetite.

The keto diet is very familiar today, so you won’t have any problems looking for recipes online or through physical resources. You can even try out several ​Chinese keto recipes​ such as egg drop soup, high protein ramen, and broccoli beef, and not feel guilty about it!

2. Lowers Inflammation

When left unaddressed for long periods, chronic inflammation can result in severe fatigue, fever, mouth sores, and abdominal pain. Experiencing any of these symptoms will make it very challenging to move and accomplish your daily routine. In worse cases, chronic inflammation can also trigger the development of several diseases, namely cancer, heart disease, obesity, asthma, and diabetes.

Fortunately, the keto diet can effectively combat chronic inflammation. Adapting to this meal plan naturally switches off the body’s inflammatory pathways and produces less free radicals in the body. Chronic inflammation is often caused by too many free radicals in the body, which is why it’s important to keep the level in moderation.

If you’re planning to try out a keto diet because of its ability to treat chronic inflammation, make sure that you stick to whole and unprocessed foods. Some of the most common examples of these foods are bell pepper, ​zucchini​, spinach, cheese, eggs, and grass-fed meat.

3. Treats Acne

Acne is a common skin disease that affects millions of adults worldwide. While some people only experience acne during their adolescents, others develop low self-esteem throughout their lives because of recurring acne. Aside from affecting one’s appearance, acne can also take a toll on a person’s mental health and may trigger depression and anxiety. If you feel that your feelings toward your acne are taking a heavy toll on your emotional and mental well-being to the point where you are experiencing depression symptoms, click here to learn more about depression. 

You won’t have to suffer these consequences because the keto diet can also improve the appearance of acne. According to ​studies​, the keto diet can combat acne and prevent acne breakouts because it encourages the body to decrease its carb intake. This process can encourage the balance of gut bacteria in the body and regulate one’s blood sugar, resulting in better skin health.

4. Improves Heart Health

Your heart is one of the most essential organs of the body. It’ll be challenging to function or even live if you have poor heart health. Aside from sticking to an active lifestyle, following a keto diet can also help you maintain or improve your heart health.

Eating healthy fats such as those found in avocados and pork rinds can reduce cholesterol in the body and prevent ​heart inflammation​. As a result, your heart will continue to function healthily even as you age. Hence, it won’t have any problems pumping blood because of enlarged veins and valves.

5. Protects Brain Functions

Your ability to learn depends on how your brain functions. It’s responsible for controlling and coordinating your actions, and enabling you to have feelings and memories – your brain basically controls emotions and behaviors that make you human.

However, there will come a time when your brain won’t remain as sharp. When you age, your brain starts to shrink and become more susceptible to several health problems such as memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. Fortunately, you can prevent this from happening by sticking to a keto diet as soon as possible.

According to ​studies​, the keto diet can also protect your brain functions. The ketones (chemicals that your liver makes), can provide several neuroprotective benefits such as protection against brain damage and strengthening its nerve cells.

By following the keto diet, you’ll be able to protect your brain from severe health conditions and ensure that it stays sharp, even as you age.

6. Gives You More Energy

Having energy for the day is always a must for humans. It’ll be very challenging to excel at work, accomplish chores at home, and socialize with other people if you feel drained throughout the entire day. Having low energy levels can also hinder you from exercising regularly, which can eventually become the reason why you will be sick.

If you’re looking for an energy booster, trying out the keto diet can surely help. Unlike other types of diets, the keto diet encourages your brain to produce more mitochondria, the battery pack of all your cells. Hence, mitochondria enable your cells and organs to have better and sustained energy, making it very easy for you to accomplish tasks.

Check with Your Doc

Several studies have proven how the keto diet works and improves one’s health. However, for you to achieve those results, it’s best if you consult your doctor before trying out the diet. They can provide recommendations on how to transition to this meal plan with ease. This will also help in preventing any possible side effects or health risks along the way. Once you’ve gotten the advice from a nutritionist, you can go buy keto foods from your favorite grocery store!