The Herbal Pathway

Instead of eating clean forms of protein and fats some people choose hamburgers and processed cheese, bacon and things like pork rinds.

Can you still lose weight on this version of Keto – yes…but at what cost?

This is a repost from August 2019

Keto is all the rage these days yet when you ask someone to describe it, they think it means “you can eat all the bacon and butter you want and lose weight!” This isn’t entirely false however, these foods can also cause other health problems.

Keto Definition:

The classic therapeutic ketogenic diet was developed for treatment of paediatric epilepsy in the 1920s and was widely used into the next decade, but its popularity waned with the introduction of effective anticonvulsant medications. There are other possible therapeutic uses such as Alzheimers, Autism and Parkinson. (1) These days it’s most popular use it to manage weight.

High Fat / Adequate Protein / Low Carb

With the reduction of glucose from carbohydrates, the body is forced to use fat as the main form of energy. With out getting technical, once carbs are not used for energy, the body can use up fat storage for energy – causing weight loss.

There is no doubt this diet, if maintained properly, can make a person lose weight and quickly! The unfortunate part is, there is so much misinformation about exactly how to eat “Keto” it is causing side effects which may not be worth the 20lb weight loss. Before you begin you must understand the difference between Clean Keto and Dirty Keto.

Clean Keto:

The clean keto diet follows fixed macronutrients as mentioned above, while restricting carbohydrates to less than 50 grams (or usually less) per day. These carbs MUST NOT come from rice, fruit, bread, potatoes or any starchy carb. Instead, in Keto they come from vegetables like cucumber, zucchini, asparagus and other low-carb veggies.

The fat comes from CLEAN Fat sources such as olives, olive oil, MCT Oil, nuts, grass fed butter and avocados. You may also have 90% dark chocolate!

Clean Keto means that you are still striving to eat clean food such as Grass Fed, Free Range meat sources, organic vegetables and clean pressed oils.

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Dirty Keto:

Instead of eating clean forms of protein and fats they choose, hamburgers and processed cheese, bacon and things like pork rinds. Can you still lose weight on this version of Keto – yes…but at what cost?

Dirty Keto also comes with something called “The Keto Flu”. This happens within the first month of the Keto Diet as your body experiences cravings, bloating and…..you smell. Eating a dirty version means your body misses out of proper healthy enzymes and minerals needed for digestion. The dirty foods are usually filled with chemicals, processed, high in trans-fats and sodium which cause inflammation. Your digestion track is a delicate path and harsh chemicals can also cause another condition called “Leaky Gut” which can lead to toxins being released into your blood stream. And anything to do with blood – will affect your heart.

Keto Supplements:

At The Herbal Pathway we carry products to fit everyone’s chosen “path”. When on Keto there is list of supplements you should definitely consider:

• Magnesium – Breaking down protein and fat uses more water, so constipation is an issue for a lot of people. Magnesium is not only an essential mineral that the majority of people are deficient in – but it’s great for immunity, sleep and regulates blood sugar levels.
• MCT Oil – A great source of healthy fat. This can be added to your black coffee in the morning or smoothies.
• Digestive Enzymes – Keto high protein and fat is harder on the digestive track so adding an enzyme really helps “move” things along.
• Psyllium Husks – Eating less vegetables on Keto can lead to lower fibre so adding a soluble fibre is important for digestion and elimination.
• Probiotics – Something we should all take, but especially important for gut health when you are changing lifestyles. Weight loss causes free radicals and toxins to be released from your fat cells. It’s essential that you have the right amount of good bacteria available to help your system stay healthy and eliminate regularly.
• Multivitamin – A restrictive diet is hard to follow and sometimes we might not be getting all the nutrients needed for optimum health. Taking a good multivitamin is important to ensure you stay healthy on your path!

In Summary:

Those who have a strong will and understand the premise of clean eating, can successfully lose weight and manage other health conditions on the Keto Diet – but it must be the clean version. Using an APP such as “Carb Manager” can help you keep track of your macros (protein/fat/carbs) it will also warn you about which foods aren’t the best choice.

Remember water. It’s very easy to become dehydrated on Keto as your body uses more water for digestion. Without water you will lose energy fast and this can cause some people to get sick and fall off the plan. Your body will pull water from ANYWHERE when it’s needed…that means your muscles (fatigue) your brain (headaches) your colon (constipation).

Like any other “diet” unless you are willing to change your lifestyle the chances of success are less likely. With something as restrictive as Keto – it’s easy to fall off. It’s always recommended that you seek professional advise prior to starting ANY diet. Keto is not for everyone.