Are you keto-curious?

Here are the pros and cons of this fad diet [you NEED to read this] Dear {NAME}, I thought I’d take the time today to answer a couple of questions I get all the time: “Dr. Lee, what do you think of the keto diet? And is it right for me?” So I’m going to explain what the keto diet is, and tell you what I see as the pros and cons of it… Because there are some of both. Let’s start with what the keto diet is. The keto diet works by forcing your body to change the way it produces energy.1 Normally, your body takes carbs (also called starches or sugars) and converts them into glucose… also called blood sugar. Then it sends the glucose through your bloodstream, where it feeds all your cells. Well, the keto diet tricks your body into burning something else for energy: Fat. This fat-burning mode is called ketosis. Now, to activate ketosis, you have to cut way back on carbs… In fact, you have to eliminate almost ALL carbs from your diet. Then, when your body stops getting glucose, it kind of freaks out… So your liver starts producing something called beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and releasing it into your bloodstream.2 BHB is basically a chemical distress signal telling your body to find food somewhere — fast! So your body starts using the only other available supply of food: Stored fat. That’s where the other part of the keto diet comes into play… Because you have to eat fat… lots of fat. In fact, with the keto diet, 80% of your calories should come from fats. That means formerly forbidden foods like butter and bacon are okay… Along with other, healthier fats like avocados, olive oil, nuts, and meat. Eat butter and bacon to lose weight? Sounds like a great diet, right? Well, that’s only half the story. Because you’re going to have to make a major change in your eating habits. In fact, the list of foods you CANNOT eat is long… and probably includes a lot of your favorite foods, including some that are normally considered healthy… Like most fruits and vegetables! That makes the keto diet almost impossible for many people to follow for very long… Because, frankly, there are too many foods on the “do not eat” list. And as I’ve told you before, deprivation diets are almost always destined to fail, because you miss your favorite foods too much. But that’s not the only “con” for the keto diet. For example, you also might experience some unpleasant side effects when you go keto... Such as the “keto flu”... Which can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and irritability. Now, this isn’t too surprising, because during the transition from carbs to fat, you are basically starving! The keto flu can last for days... or as long as a few weeks. But there are still some more downsides to keto, and they have to do with your health. You see, when you eliminate so many different foods, you also eliminate the nutrients they provide you with. For instance, cutting out most fruits and vegetables means you might not be getting enough fiber to keep your gut healthy… and to keep you “regular.” Also, one recent study on mice found a possible link between keto and Type II diabetes.3 Another study, released just this week, tracked the eating habits and mortality rates of 15,400 American men and women over a 30-year period. Guess who lived the longest? People who got 50 to 55 percent of their calories from carbs.4 Guess who had the highest mortality rate? People who got less than 30% of their calories from carbs… and swapped their carbs for animal-based fat and protein. (And on keto, you only get about 5% of your calories from carbs — and 80% from fat!) Now, this is only one study… But it covered many people, over a long period of time... so it's something you need to consider before going keto. So, for me, here is the bottom line on the keto diet: Yes, it can help you lose a lot of pounds and inches fast. But: - You cheat your body out of important dietary fiber, minerals, and muscle mass…  - You might be putting yourself at greater risk for Type II diabetes…  - You have to say goodbye to most fruits, many vegetables, and anything with added sugar.  - It could affect your longevity… And, like ALL deprivation-based diets… It’s almost certain to fail over the long run. So keto has great potential for helping you get rid of fat, but the price you pay could be pretty high. Well, I’ve been researching a surprisingly simple way to “trick” your body into giving you the fat-burning benefits of keto… WITHOUT all the side effects and health risks. In fact, this “keto shortcut” helps you burn fat faster... without starting a new exercise regimen or following any diet other than the one you’re already on. And I’m going to fill you in on what I’ve learned in my next email… So keep your eye on your inbox! To your present and future health, Amy Lee, MD Head of Nutrition  [Top logo]( Sources 1 Belluz J. The keto diet, explained. Vox Media. 13 June 2018. 2 Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, Serum Retrieved from and+Interpretive/9251 3 Grandl G, Straub L, Rudigier C, Arnold M, Wueest S, Konrad D, Wolfrum C. Short-term feeding of a ketogenic diet induces more severe hepatic insulin resistance than a obesogenic high-fat diet. The Journal of Physiology. Published online ahead of print, 2018. doi: 10.1113/JP275173. 4 Seidelmann S, Claggett B, Cheng S, Henglin M, Shah A, Steffen L, Folsom A, Rimm E, Willett W, Solomon S. Dietary carbohydrate intake and mortality: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis. The Lancet. 16 August 2018. DOI: 18)30135-X    This email was sent to {EMAIL} by amylee@nucific.com 19528 Ventura Blvd. #343 Tarzana, CA 91356 [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Report Spam]( Â