Unless you have been hiding under a rock lately, you have probably heard of this “fad” diet called keto. But what you have heard in the media is probably NOT true. The media and critics call it “Dangerous”, a “fad”, “unsustainable.” And that is all codswallop.

Keto is short for “ketogenic”. Any way of eating that puts your body into a metabolic state of ketosis is considered ketogenic. To be in a ketogenic state, the state of ketosis, you must eat a diet low in carbohydrates, OR be in a state of fasting/starvation.

I know what you are thinking. You think this doesn’t sound healthy, but I will tell you that the research on the subject is highly indicative of ketosis being completely safe, and in many ways, beneficial. There are so many studies that have been done on how a ketogenic diet works and how it can help with many diseases and conditions. So hear me out.

The “keto” diet has been around for millennia. The Inuit people have eating this way as their regular diet, as vegetation is scarce for them and processed food isn’t part of their diets. It has been used to treat diabetes since before the invention of insulin, and in the 1920s, it was used to treat epilepsy in children. This way of eating regulates and balances blood sugar and insulin, switches the body’s metabolism to burn fat instead of glucose.

Many of the diseases people are suffering from are cardiometabolic in nature, and inflammation is rampant in these diseases/disorders. Increases in inflammation in the body means the immune system is spending much of its time fighting something, trying to fix a problem that it perceives as dangerous. Chronic states of inflammation decreases the immune system, meaning you can’t actually fight off dangerous pathogens that have invaded the body, and increases damage to the cardiovascular system and tissues, including the brain. A ketogenic diet decreases inflammation, and the body begins to heal itself, including the immune system, and reduces inflammation, making it the most efficient diet for reduction in inflammation and starting the healing process.

Balancing your insulin and sugar reduces inflammation in the body, and keto can help with that, but you have to actually eliminate the foods that are sabotaging your health from your diet. Processed foods must be swapped for healthy, whole food choices. See my grocery list for a great way to start cleaning out your pantry and get on the ketogenic path.