Recently, a new weight loss method has quietly become popular in the weight loss community, which is the ketogenic diet. It sounds quite sophisticated, but to put it simply, the ketogenic diet involves a very low carbohydrate intake combined with moderate protein and high fat consumption. This dietary approach changes the body’s energy metabolism pattern by significantly reducing carbohydrate intake, leading to lower glycogen levels in the liver and muscles, thus putting the body into a special “ketosis state,” allowing it to utilize body fat and ketones more effectively. By using the ketogenic diet, appetite can be suppressed, leading to weight loss.
Many celebrities have actively practiced this weight loss method, with notable figures like Zhong Liti, who proclaimed on Weibo that during a family trip to Koh Samui, Thailand, she lost weight by drinking coconut oil every day for 11 days. Of course, most fans criticized her unhealthy weight loss method, indicating that people now have a certain understanding of scientific weight loss methods and are not blindly following trends.
The concept of the ketogenic diet originated in the United States and was initially used to treat epilepsy, later being researched for its potential in preventing and treating brain tumors. During the treatment of epilepsy patients, it was observed that those on a ketogenic diet tended to lose weight, leading to the gradual development of this dietary method into a weight loss strategy.
Some individuals found a significant weight drop when they started the ketogenic diet because, after following it, muscle mass decreased, and the kidneys expelled ketones, resulting in reduced water content, hence weight loss. Secondly, the ketogenic diet leads to decreased appetite, which naturally results in eating less and thus losing weight. However, if one stops this dietary approach and returns to a normal diet, weight can easily rebound.
Each person’s body condition is different, and practicing the ketogenic diet must be closely monitored with adjustments made according to bodily changes. Without professional knowledge, blindly pursuing a state of ketosis can harm the body, resulting in dangerously high blood ketone levels, leading to ketoacidosis, which can cause nausea, headache, and vomiting symptoms.
The ketogenic diet requires high fat intake, including unsaturated fats like olive oil, medium-chain triglycerides such as coconut oil, and saturated fats like butter and animal fats. Due to the high market prices of the first two types of fats, many people choose cheaper saturated fats during their ketogenic diet, which can negatively affect weight loss results and increase bad cholesterol levels in the blood, raising the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Currently, there are many research cases regarding the ketogenic diet abroad, but in China, it is still in its early stages, so whether it is suitable for Chinese individuals and whether it can effectively promote weight loss requires further research. A typical symptom after following a ketogenic diet is the sugar withdrawal response. Given that the predominant dietary habit in China is a carbohydrate-based diet, almost everyone following a ketogenic diet will experience sugar withdrawal symptoms, including constipation, dizziness, dry mouth, abnormal emotions, inability to concentrate, and even a decline in quality of life.
For fitness enthusiasts, the ketogenic diet not only does not help in muscle building but can also lead to weight gain due to excessive energy intake.
Therefore, the drawbacks of the ketogenic diet outweigh its benefits; the correct weight loss method is diligent exercise combined with a reasonable diet.
Note: The images above are sourced from the internet.
