The ketogenic diet, or keto diet for short, is a low carbohydrate, high fat diet that has been shown to help some people lose weight. The goal of the diet is to get your body into a state of ketosis, in which it is burning fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. This is achieved by drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. The reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where fat, from your diet and from your body, is burned for energy.
The keto diet is typically high in fats, moderate in protein, and very low in carbohydrates. It typically involves getting 70-80% of your daily calories from fat, 20-25% from protein, and 5-10% from carbs.
There are several different versions of the keto diet, including the standard ketogenic diet, the cyclical ketogenic diet, and the targeted ketogenic diet. The standard ketogenic diet is the most popular and involves completely cutting out carbs and replacing them with fats. The cyclical ketogenic diet involves eating a ketogenic diet for a set number of days, followed by a higher carb diet for a set number of days. The targeted ketogenic diet involves eating extra carbs around workouts.
There is some evidence to suggest that the keto diet may be helpful for weight loss and improving certain health markers, such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. However, the diet is not suitable for everyone and may not be safe for long-term use. It is important to speak with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, especially if you have a medical condition or are taking medications.