Dangers of Keto DIet

A keto diet is famous for being a low carb diet to initiate weight loss, where the body produces ketones in the liver to be used as energy. By lowering the intake of carbs, and increasing the intake of fats, our body is induced into a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a natural process the body initiates to aid us to survive when the food intake is low. Although the end goal of a keto diet is to lose weight by forcing the body into a metabolic state, this can have adverse short term and long terms side effects on the body.

1. Keto Flu

One of the most common side effects of Keto diet is the keto flu. Sudden carbohydrate withdrawal leads to people reporting mood swings, irritation, fatigue, dizziness and nausea. Keto flu is one of the main reasons for stopping progress on a ketogenic diet as the body takes time to adapt to use fat to fuel.

2. Heart Diseases and Keto Diabetes

Another major health risk associated with following a ketogenic diet is increased risk of heart diseases and keto diet diabetes. Also known as a cardiologist’s nightmare, ketogenic diet adds to increased cholesterol due to high intake of fatty foods. In certain cases, it may raise the risk of dying from cancer and may also result in heart attacks among other cardiovascular diseases.

3. Loss of Muscle Tissues

The longer you are on a ketogenic diet, the more fat you burn as this diet for weight loss may lead to loss of muscle tissue. While protein is considered as the powerhouse muscle builder, carbohydrates are vital in maintaining and forming muscles. In the process of losing muscles, there are high possibilities of the heart getting damaged as well.

4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Another danger of following a keto diet is that may introduce nutritional deficiencies due to not being able to consume adequate minerals, vitamins and nutrients. Renowned nutritionists around the globe do no recommend this as a long-term diet as it is not a balanced diet.  Keto diet also eliminates the consumption of essential food groups such as legumes, beans, whole grains, certain fruits, and vegetables.

5. Athletic Underperformance

Although athletes claim that following a keto diet has led to improved performances due to rapid weight loss, dieticians do not agree with this. Studies have shown that the human body is in a more acidic state when it’s in ketosis, which may limit its ability to perform at peak levels.

6. Loss of Electrolyte

When you switch to a keto diet, and radically reduce the intake of carbs and processed foods, the body’s sodium and electrolyte levels also decrease. Due to this, you are likely to face symptoms as racing heartbeat, palpitations, dizziness, constipation, and bloating.

7. Instant Weight Gain

Apart from this, one of the main problems people face after they discontinue their ketogenic diet is instant weight gain. Keto diet is very restrictive and therefore becomes an inappropriate diet to follow in the long term. Once the person goes back to devouring carbs, they are very likely to reverse the effect of keto diet by putting on excess weight. This diet mainly appeals to people who have unhealthy relationships with food thus leading to issues relating to portion control and binge eating.

In conclusion, every coin has two sides, keto will help to reduce weight, boost energy, prevent certain diseases only if it is performed in the appropriate manner. Going to extreme lengths and radically changing your diet may not be suitable for your body.

How PCOS might be affecting your weight

Trying to lose weight but the weighing machine just doesn’t seem to comply? There is more to it than meets the eye when it comes to weight gain.  Binge eating unhealthy food, large portion size, inactive lifestyle, less sleep or even stress are not the only reasons why your favorite pair of jeans doesn’t fit anymore.

One such medical reason is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Women diagnosed with PCOS often find it extremely difficult to lose weight. Medical reasons can also cause weight gain and no matter how much you exercise or even go on a strict healthy diet plan the weight seems to increase. Polycystic ovary syndrome patients with high Body Mass Index tend to have functional disorders.

However, it isn’t quite clear if polycystic ovary syndrome and weight gain have a cause and effect relationship. PCOS is a condition characterized by an imbalance of reproductive hormones i.e. too many androgens, or “male hormones” in particular. Such an imbalance can often result in nasty weight gain around the waist area, which in turn results in more fat accumulation. The fat near the abdominal area reduces responsiveness to insulin making you likely to gain more weight. With PCOS, the bodies metabolism rate is lower than average. Women suffering from PCOS often complain about their hunger hormone being all over the place; they feel hungry even when their body does not need food.

Along with insulin resistance, women suffering from PCOS experience emotional imbalance and find themselves to be over-stressed or even depressed.

High blood pressure, sleep apnea, infertility, type 2 diabetes and Endometrial cancer are risks associated with PCOS and weight gain. Many of these conditions can lead to heart disease. In fact, women with PCOS are four to seven times more likely to have a heart attack than women of the same age without the condition.

It is often observed that along with the right medical treatment and well-scheduled exercise one can lose weight inspite of having Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Losing weight can restore normal functioning of hormones and reduce insulin resistance by 50%.

Tips for losing weight with PCOS:

1. Eat without distraction, as it helps reduce overeating
2. Add spices to your food, a sprinkle cinnamon in your coffee or tea can help
3. Squat it out! A great exercise that is fantastic for losing weight, as well as keeping fit.
4. Add more walking in your day, spending any spare time exercising can go a long way.
5. Say no to processed food.

The best way to lose weight is by achieving the right combination of physical workout and diet.

Experts recommend best diet for PCOS containing low-carb, high-fiber and low-sugar to women suffering from PCOS, they also recommend exercising first and then eating to regulate body metabolism. Focus on making small changes to your lifestyle and that should help! PCOS and its effects can be combated with the right care and adjustments.

Top 7 super foods for helping your weight loss goals

Are you looking to get set for the party month of the year? There are some weight loss foods which will definitely help you shed those extra kilograms. The two courses of weight loss that first come to your mind will either be a weight loss diet or some rigorous exercise. Well, we have just made your job easy by compiling a list of super foods which will surely aid your weight loss diet plan–

1. Apples
   ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ This is what we have been hearing since forever and it indeed is true! Apples have antioxidants and dietary fiber which serves as a helping hand when it comes to weight loss. Adding 3 – 4 apples every week to your diet plan can really make a difference. PS – Watch out for wax, people normally apply it on apples to make them look shinier and appealing to the eye, it’s safer to peel the skin out!
2. Quinoa
   Are you one of the many who mistake quinoa for a grain? Well it’s not. Quinoa is a (super) seed. It is one of the most nutrient-dense carbs available. It also contains the amino acid responsible for healing sore muscles (You know what to have after a work-out). Quinoa is loaded with fiber too which will make you feel full; it’s definitely a super-food to include in your diet!
3. Avocado
   Do you ever feel like grabbing a snack right after a full meal? If yeas, then avocado might be the right food for you. Adding approximately half an avocado to your meal helps ward these cravings. A study published in the Nutrition Journal showed that 40% people had a decreased desire to snack between meals and 28% participants reported being full for as long as five hours.
4. Broccoli
   Not only is broccoli is a rich source of dietary fiber, but it also keeps you full. If you are someone who uses a calorie calculator for food this might be the ingredient for you. Broccoli is really low in calories and there are several interesting ways of adding it to your diet eg: Broccoli and hummus is the perfect combination of delicious and healthy!
5. Lentils
   Lentils are similar to beans, packed with protein. On an average 200 calories of lentils have about 18 grams of protein! Lentils also help you build lean muscle and aids in controlling your hunger. They should definitely be included in your diet as it will go a long way in the future.
6. Spinach
   Just as spinach was Popeye’s favorite food, it should be ours too! 100 grams of spinach contains 2.9 grams of protein for a mere 23 calories! You can easily add spinach to your salad or health juice. Spinach might look like a lot but when it’s cooked it shrinks drastically. It should be an essential part of your diet.
7. Oats
   Last but not the least, Oats! We made sure we kept the best for the end. It is an amazing snack to have between meals; it does not contain too many calories, but keeps you full for longer than most food. Oats release energy slowly into your body, not all at one go, making it an ideal snack for your diet!

If you’re wondering how to reduce weight, there are several other food products that can help you achieve your goal. Food like – kale, almonds, kidney beans, white beans, flax seeds, chia seeds, groundnuts, barley, quinoa, salmon, sardines etc. all have some great quality and can do wonders to your body.
Another modern way to reduce those inches is U-Lipolysis, a perfectly healthy and risk free method. It’s a great exercise for body contouring and body shaping without undergoing surgery! It’s definitely worth a shot.
Above, we have mentioned some of the best foods to eat to lose weight. Give it a shot, include it in your diet plan in the right quantities and you will surely see a positive result! Start your journey to a healthy living and get in shape for the New Year!