VARIETIES OF KETOGENIC DIETS

 VARIETIES OF KETOGENIC DIETS

The ketogenic diet has a short history of less than a hundred years. It was developed for the treatment of epilepsy. The ketogenic diet works by triggering a certain biochemical process in the body. The right proportions of macronutrients - fat, carbohydrates, and proteins are to cause the liver to start producing the so-called ketone bodies. Once produced, ketone bodies travel throughout the body where they are used as fuel in various tissues. Ketone bodies, in addition to their energy purpose, also have a number of other activities - e.g. they have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce the breakdown of proteins in the body.
There are several dietary models for achieving nutritional ketosis. It is important for health which of these nutritional models we choose to start enjoying the benefits of the ketogenic diet. Since this diet is used min. in the treatment of epilepsy, commercial preparations have also been developed to facilitate treatment with a ketogenic diet.
There are several popular diets you can use to base your meals on in order to induce ketosis:
1- Low-carbohydrate diet in the broad sense (LCHF). The most closely related model here is the Atkins diet. It is based on low-processed products containing little or no carbohydrates. It is based on foods such as meat, dairy, nuts, and seeds that are low in carbohydrates. The non-carbohydrate pyramid
2- The paleo diet in the ketogenic variety. This is a paleo-based diet, but the macronutrient ratios are adjusted to induce a state of ketosis. In the ketogenic version of the paleo diet, products containing a lot of carbohydrates are eliminated, mainly fruits, starchy vegetables, and some nuts.
3- All meat diets. This diet consists only of meat and offal and is basically a paleo diet. It should be ensured that these are fatty meats so that the proper ratio of fat to proteins is maintained. This diet should be supplemented with giblets such as kidneys, liver, and brains. It is also worth consuming bone marrow, cartilage, or bone decoctions. Consume whole portions - including any liquids that come out of the meat during processing. Products can be thermally processed or raw. Another name for such a diet is the zero-carb diet.
4- Diets based on various types of preparations - nutrients with a composition ensuring the right ratio of fats, protein, and carbohydrates. These nutrients are enriched with vitamins, minerals, and fats necessary for humans. Unfortunately, such a solution is based on highly processed food - it is not a natural food-based on natural products, therefore not
5-Very restrictive diets in calories and fasts. In this case, food (even carbohydrates) is so limited that it does not interfere with the production of ketones too much. However, it should be borne in mind that in epilepsy, even a temporary decrease in ketone levels caused by carbohydrate consumption may cause the seizures to come back. In the case of fasting, it is obvious that this situation is limited in time.
6- Vegan ketogenic diet (no animal products). Such a diet is manageable, but the amount of products that meet the criteria for a ketogenic diet is very limited. Such a diet will be expensive and inconvenient to follow, ignoring all the other drawbacks of a vegan and vegetarian diet.
There are plenty of options for a ketogenic diet. The best option, however, will be a diet based on animal products such as meat, offal, eggs, and (for those who are not harmed by it) fatty dairy products. A diet based on a paleo diet, a carbohydrate-free diet, or the Dr. Atkins diet will be best. It should be ensured that the products are as fresh and as little processed as possible. Animal products are best for a ketogenic diet because they are characterized by great variety, the best digestibility, and the best availability of vitamins and minerals.