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Ketogenic Diet: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Ketogenic Diet: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Written by Kelly Gibson

Introduction: I’ve been in the nutrition field for about six years, after mastering extreme weight loss on a plant-based diet. Not a day goes by that I don’t see ads for foods that I no longer eat – from food delivery services to chain restaurants to supplement companies trying to get me to sell their products. Businesses are constantly piggyback marketing by creating new foods to make the latest diet easier on people by selling custom meals and supplements. If more people knew what I knew about these marketing tactics, they just might stop falling for it. In just the past year I’ve been bombarded with ads and inquiries about the new ketogenic diet. I finally decided to shed light on what this diet is all about including the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Kelly Gibson - Nutrition Coach

The Keto Plate: The keto diet first came about in the early 1900s (1) but didn’t become a “thing” for quite some time. It’s been gaining popularity for quick fat loss recently, and even for cancer treatment. The ketogenic diet specifically aims for a macronutrient profile of 5-10% of calories from carbohydrates, 60-75% calories from fat, and 15-30% calories from protein. A lot of keto dieters aim for 30 grams or less of carbs, as a general rule of thumb; eat one banana and you’ve exceeding your carb limit for the day!  The good thing about the keto diet is protein intake is moderate and people don’t have to stress over counting calories. Unfortunately, they need to achieve out-of-the-ordinary low-carb and high-fat goals in order to master the keto diet.  This diet is primarily comprised of meat, eggs, oils, animal fats (like lard, tallow, bacon grease, and goose fat) in addition to full-fat dairy products (like mayo, butter, and heavy cream).

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The Good: The main purpose of going keto is for the body to raise ketone levels and enter a state of ketosis. Ketones are – in simple terms – an alternative energy source to glucose, which our brain and body primarily functions on. Ketosis can happen when you take a break from eating carbohydrates and build up ketone levels. In ketosis, your body switches from carbs to fat for fuel, allowing it to perform key functions in the brain and body (Berardi 65). Some research suggests that ketones burn fat faster than glucose, which is why there is so much hype about this diet. A good thing about this low-carb diet is that people have no choice but to avoid processed sugar. Common benefits people have reported from going keto is lower triglycerides, more energy, and reduced seizure activity (3).

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Sample keto dessert: gelatin gummy bears with artificial sweetener

The Bad:  Even a little bite of fruit or dessert could throw you over your carb goal for the day, and kick you out of ketosis. Unfortunately, people resort to low-calorie sweeteners or even artificial sweeteners if they really want to treat themselves. Even though there are no carbs in sugar-free treats, artificial sweeteners can create an insulin response, increasing appetite and causing weight gain (5). Negative side effects that some keto dieters report is mood disturbance, fatigue, and lower motivation to exercise (4). This, in and of itself is counterproductive to weight loss and could be a sign of malnutrition.

The Ugly: You’ll be shocked at what you find out about the ketogenic diet… Go to the next page to reveal how ugly this diet can be.

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Resources:

  1. Mandal, Ananya. “History of the Ketogenic Diet.” News Medical, Jan 12 2015https://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-the-Ketogenic-Diet.aspx. Accessed July 16, 2018.
  2. Berardi, John et al. Precision Nutrition: The Essentials of Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Second Edition. Precision Nutrition, Inc., 2012.
  3. Kossoff, Eric. “Ketogenic Diet.” Epilepsy Foundation, Oct 2017. https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy/dietary-therapies/ketogenic-diet. Accessed July 17, 2018.
  4. White, A. M., Johnston, C. S., Swan, P. D., Tjonn, S. L., & Sears, B. (2007). “Blood Ketones Are Directly Related to Fatigue and Perceived Effort during Exercise in Overweight Adults Adhering to Low-Carbohydrate Diets for Weight Loss: A Pilot Study.” Journal of the American Dietetic Association107(10), 1792-1796. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2007.07.009. https://asu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/blood-ketones-are-directly-related-to-fatigue-and-perceived-effor. Accessed July 17, 2018.
  5. Yang, Qing. “Gain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the neurobiology of sugar cravings.” Neuroscience 2010. Yale J Biol Med. 2010 Jun; 83(2): 101–108. Accessed July 18 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2892765/

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Gluten Free Diets – Fad or Fact?

Gluten Free Diets – Fad or Fact?

Have you chosen a gluten free diet to lose weight or get healthy because you have heard that wheat or gluten is “bad for you?”  I am about to tell you how true these health claims really are.

Gluten free diets can be effective for weight loss and health, depending on three factors:

1. Whether or not you have a gluten intolerance, celiac’s disease, or a wheat allergy

Are you gluten intolerant, have an allergy, or suffer from a lifelong auto-immune condition known as Celiac’s Disease?  If so, you should absolutely follow a strictly gluten free diet upon diagnosis.  If you have not been tested and have suspicions of having a gluten problem, I encourage you to see a ND or MD to run blood tests. Food intolerances, allergies and celiac’s disease are NOT something to mess with, as gluten problems can lead to immunodeficiency, leaky gut, and even more auto-immune conditions over time.  You may want to know exactly what foods are safe to eat and stick to it 100% if you have these gluten problems.  For these conditions, it requires a lifestyle change moreso than a short-term “diet”.   Eating foods that your body can’t handle will lead to unwanted weight gain. For those who do not have a true gluten problem, you might be trying a gluten free diet for the wrong reasons and may put yourself through more trouble than its worth to restrict the popular gluten ingredients in the supermarket. Glutenous foods include wheat, barley, rye, and vital wheat gluten.

2.  What you are eating to replace gluten in your diet 

If you are replacing glutenous grains with processed grains instead of healthy whole grains, you are most likely on a fad diet and not making healthy choices for weight loss.  100% whole wheat has moderate protein from gluten and also is a high fiber food; processed grains are typically low protein and low fiber. Regardless of your reason for going gluten-free, you should try to eat healthy to get results. Take the time to study the ingredients that you find on the labels of foods or be careful what you put in your homemade meals to replace the gluten proteins in wheat, rye, or barley.  Many gluten free foods are also high in oils which are 100% calories from fat, and there are 9 calories per gram of fat. Other gluten-free products contain eggs, which are both very high in saturated fat and cholesterol, yet contains no fiber.  To be safe, I would avoid eggs on a gluten-free diet (another common allergen) and then check to see if there are less than 20% of calories from fat on the nutrition label.  Remember to question if a product is fad or fat? If you can follow these few tips, and eat more home cooked meals, you are likely going to see some weight loss results.

3.  The amount of sugar you are eating on gluten free diets

If you are overeating sugar, you are going to have trouble losing weight and might even gain weight on a gluten-free diet.  If you have gluten intolerance and also want to lose weight, then contact me for help because a lot of gluten free foods are jam-packed with added sugars and processed chemicals to make up for the lack of gluten.  This could bump up the amount of calories per gram of food, and you can easily overeat if your new diet is highly processed.  If going gluten free results in you making more homemade meals, you might experience the contrary and start to lose weight.

Need help learning about gluten-free diets or getting a written nutrition plan that’s right for you?  I write plans with both 100% whole wheat and gluten free options! Choose the foods that are right for you!

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Kelly Gibson, Vegan Gluten Free Nutrition Coach

My name is Kelly and I am intolerant to wheat and gluten.   I was sticking to gluten free diets mostly for 3 years, but cheating once in a while with a food that contained wheat or gluten really affected my weight goals.  Having a snack once a week containing gluten created auto-immunity inside of my body and prevented me from losing the weight that I worked so hard for the other 95% of the time.  After going fully gluten free, I have never felt better and even lost my last 7 pounds. I plan to be on a gluten free diet for the rest of my life and I do it for my health! If I didn’t have intolerance I would have no problem eating it, and I have no problem encouraging others to do the same. It is estimated that roughly 30% of people have a gluten problem; as for the other 70% they shouldn’t have to worry about cutting the gluten.

Written by Kelly Gibson on Jan 12, 2015. Edited Aug 5th 2016.

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    Can Eating Salad make me Fat?

    Can Eating Salad make me Fat?

    Is a salad with dressing really worse than a cheeseburger? A pound of lettuce is going to contribute about 20 calories so there is a negligent amount of macronutrients to worry about in that by itself. The real calories come from what you add to the salad. Let’s take a look to answer your question “Can Eating Salad make me Fat?”:

    It almost seems silly to compare the two, since their macronutrient ratios are entirely different. However, in terms of calories you would need to add 6-7 tablespoons of Italian Dressing to make a plain salad as unhealhty as a cheeseburger.  That means almost a half of a cup of dressing!  I don’t know anyone who needs that much dressing. What a relief! So I guess we should keep adding dressing to our salads as long as we control our portions, right?

    Wrong and let me tell you why. The first ingredient in majority of store-bought dressings is the most overused sweetener in America, and the worst part is? Everyone tells you to stop having it.  You may not know it, but you are defeating the purpose of a healthy salad when you add High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), with a hint of added flavors and preservatives. What about Fat-Free?  Don’t worry, food companies will sneak in some artificial sweeteners like sucralose or dextrins to make it taste better.

    Unfortunately, toxins like these can make it very difficult to lose weight, even if you’re limiting your overall calorie intake.  I suggest you take a look in your refrigerator and read the ingredient label on your salad dressings (or ALL condiments for that matter). If it’s got HFCS, I recommend you chuck it or donate it to your local food drive.

    Many of you may already be aware of this problem, and you probably stock up on organic dressings.  But there’s still a ton of sodium in those too. Hmm! What to do now?  I know I know… create your own salad dressing! It takes 2 minutes or less to whip up a healthier dressing to ensure you’re not putting toxic ingredients in your body. Sounds worth it to me. It’s important to add healthy proteins to your salad and cut down on the processed oils, so I tend to make nut or seed butter dressings like tahini, made from sesame seeds.

    Try my mega easy 30-SECOND dressing recipe! It contains more protein than most store-bought dressings.

    easy-lemon-tahini-dressing-recipe
    Easy Lemon Tahini Dressing

    Lemon tahini dressing:

    1 TBSP Tahini

    1TSP Lemon Juice

    1TSP Water

    Instructions: Whip together all of the ingredients in a small bowl for one serving. 3 ingredients in 30 seconds? You must think I’m joking!! Seriously I’m not, this is my go-to salad dressing and its as easy as 1 2 3! Give it a try and let me know how you like it! If you eat salad wtih this amazing protein dense dressing you wont be asking “Can Eating Salad make me Fat?” anymore.

    Looking for more easy vegan recipe ideas? Try a Vegan Challenge or Contact Me for More Info:

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