Ketogenic Diets

Ketogenic (Keto) Diets fall under the umbrella of being a type of LCHF Diet. For most people, this involves restricting their intake of carbohydrate to less than 30g per day, whilst increasing their intake of natural fats. We recommend people use whole, unprocessed foods to do this. Eating this way prompts the liver to produce small molecules called ‘ketone bodies’ (or ketones) which can be used as an alternative fuel source by the body and the brain instead of blood glucose (sugar).

Ketones are made from fats, which means on a Keto Diet, your body is switching its fuel supply to run mainly on burning fat. If you have excess body fat, this can be a good way to burn excess body fat for fuel, which the body is able to do when insulin (the fat storage hormone) is kept lower, as it often does on a Keto Diet.

The Keto Diet appears to be a safe way of eating for most adults. However, in certain situations listed below, you must discuss with your doctor before starting a keto diet:

• If you take any regular medication, particularly medication for diabetes or high blood pressure
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding