The ketogenic diet is one of the most effective and popular diets currently out there, but not everyone uses this tried-and-true weight loss method because there are some myths abouta ketogenic diet that continued to be perpetuated. Let’s take a look at five of the most common myths about the keto diet and what the truth behind them actually is.
Keto is for Weight Loss Only
A common myth is that keto diet is for weight loss only. That’s not really true. There is no doubt that ketogenic diet can help with weight loss and fat burning, but if your goal is not to lose weight that doesn’t mean that you should not go fora keto diet. In fact, it’s possible to gain weight on a keto diet by only following it partially or having cheat days. Keeping your body in ketosis can also be used as a maintenance tactic. If you do not want to lose weight, but you do not want to gain weight either, you can maintain and still stick to a ketogenic diet. However, it is true that most people who use a keto diet are doing it because they want to lose weight.
Keto Diets Have no Basis in Science
Understanding what are ketones and how a keto diet works areimportant because one of the most prevalent myths is that a keto diet has no basis in science. However, that is absolutely false. In fact, the ketogenic diet was actually developed by researchers in the 1920s at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. Since then, there have been numerous studies that have demonstrated the benefits of a keto diet. Some of these studies have concentrated on weight loss, while others have measured the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet against various health conditions including insulin resistance, diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease and even cancer.
You Lose Muscle Mass on a Keto Diet
You do not necessarily have to lose muscle mass on a ketogenic diet. In fact, there is evidence suggesting that a ketogenic diet can actually increase strength and build muscle. Some health experts insist that low-carb diets result in the loss of lean muscle, but the truth is that your body has no requirement for dietary carbohydrates and the keto diet doesn’t necessarily mean you have to lose muscle mass. The main thing to keep in mind is that you need to be consuming lots of protein in order to build muscle mass.
Keto Diets Should be Short-Term Only
Again, you have to look at what are ketones to understand why keto diets do not necessarily have to be short-term. One of the reasons that this myth is so prevalent is that it is recommended that you take a break from the keto diet after being on it for 90 days or so to give your body some time to adjust. However, once your body has adjusted, you can get back on the keto diet without any problems. There is no time limit to how long you can be on a ketogenic diet.
The Side Effects aren’t worth it
What about the side effects? That’s also a common misconception. There are possible side effects to being on the ketogenic diet, but they are not nearly as prevalent or difficult to manage as most people think they are. Every person reacts to a keto diet differently, and just because someone you know reacted badly to the keto diet does not mean that you will. Some people experience lower energy levels during the first stages of the keto diet, but not everyone will.
