Ketogenic or Keto Diet: The Ultimate Guide

Hey there! Have you heard about the ketogenic diet? It’s been getting a lot of buzz lately as a powerful weight loss plan. Essentially, it’s a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate protein diet that can put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis.

The interesting thing is that this type of diet has actually been around for a while. It was first introduced in the early 1900s as a treatment for epilepsy, and later gained even more popularity in the 1970s thanks to the bestselling book “Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution.”

However, during the 90s, the idea of a low-fat, high-carb diet became more popular for general health, and the keto diet fell out of favor. But it’s definitely made a comeback in recent years!

If you’re interested in giving it a try, this post will give you everything you need to know to get started and be successful with the keto diet. So, are you ready to start your keto journey today? Let’s dive in!

In this article, we will be scientifically breaking down:

• What is keto diet & ketosis?
• How does it work?
• Is it superior to other diets?
• Who is it for & not for?
• How to plan your own keto diet?
• Which supplements are best during your keto journey

What is a Ketogenic Diet?

Did you know that there are actually four macronutrients that the human body can get energy from? They are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and (believe it or not) alcohol!

Now, for a healthy and well-functioning body, it’s generally best to get most of your energy from the first three sources: carbs, proteins, and fats. These are the nutrients that your body really needs to function at its best.

But, regardless of where your energy comes from, the total number of calories you consume is what really matters. After all, calories are just a measure of the amount of energy your body can derive from these macronutrients.

If you’re curious about the caloric content of each of the four macronutrients, we’ve got you covered. Check it out below!

Macronutrient	Calories per gram / ml
Carbohydrates	4
Protein	4
Fats	9
Alcohol	7

So, you probably already know that most people consume a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fats in their diets. But have you ever heard of the keto diet?

Basically, the keto diet is a little different from what most people are used to. It’s a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet that eliminates all sources of carbohydrates. Instead, the focus is on consuming foods that are high in fat and protein.

On a keto diet, most people consume anywhere from 80 grams to as little as 30 grams of carbohydrates per day. The amount of fats and protein you need will vary depending on your goals, such as how much fat you want to lose and your body mass.

If you’re curious to learn more about how to adjust your fats and protein intake to meet your goals, we’ve got you covered in the last section.

What is Ketosis & how it works?

If you’ve ever looked into the keto diet, chances are you’ve heard the term “ketosis” being thrown around quite a bit. But before we dive into what ketosis is and how it works, it’s important to have a basic understanding of how our bodies process the macronutrients we consume.

You see, when we eat, the macronutrients in our food are broken down into specific substrates that our bodies use for various purposes. For example, it’s not the carbohydrates themselves that provide us with energy – it’s actually the glucose that our bodies derive from those carbs that gives us that energy boost.

To give you a better idea of what we’re talking about, we’ve broken down the substrates of all four macronutrients and their primary roles below. 

Macronutrient	Substrate	Primary Role
Carbohydrates	Glucose	Energy Supply
Protein	Amino Acids	Tissue repair & building/re-building
Fats	Free Fatty Acids (FFA)	Reserved Energy Stores
Alcohol	Acetaldehyde(extremely inefficient & complex mechanism)	Energy Supply

*These macronutrients & substrates have more roles to play in the human body but discussing all of them is beyond the scope of this article.

In normal circumstances, the body mainly relies on glucose for the majority of its energy requirements. The heart is an exception which functions on a mix of glucose, FFA and ketones. In case of a Keto diet as we cut the supply of carbohydrates, initially the body utilizes all of its reserved glucose stores in muscle tissues and liver. Next, the body starts looking for fuel alternatives.

The first option is to convert the stored protein in muscles into glucose (via gluconeogenesis)  and use it. But solely relying on this mechanism will cause redundant muscle tissue losses in vital organs such as the heart, and eventually causing death.

The second option is to oxidize Free Fatty Acids (FFA) in the bloodstream and stored body fat, for energy requirements. Most of the tissues in the body can use FFA for fuel.

However, the brain cannot function on FFA. The body then begins to oxidize fat for the production of Ketones. Ketone bodies are the byproduct of the incomplete metabolism of FFA in the liver. And brain can derive up to 75% of energy from Ketone bodies. Chiefly a Ketones are a fat-derived fuel alternative for the body.

The human body is always producing ketones in some amounts but under normal dietary conditions, they play an insignificant role in energy production.  In a ketogenic diet, ketones play a significant role in energy production, especially in the brain.  When ketones are produced at accelerated rates, they accumulate in the bloodstream, causing a metabolic state called ketosis. This shifts the body’s metabolism from glucose utilization to fat utilization, which is the fundamental principle of a keto diet.

Is it superior to other diets?

The primary goal of any diet should be to maximize true fat loss (not just weight loss) and minimize muscle loss. The proponents of Keto diet often claim it to be a superior diet for fat loss by stating:

“because your body is oxidizing fat for energy processes, your body turns into a fat burning machine”

I am sure you must have heard that from a pro-keto. Although your body is actually oxidizing fat for energy production, all of it is not body fat (which you want to lose) and at the same diet you are also consuming a lot of dietary fats, ranging anywhere from 150-250g per day. Thus, when caloric intakes are matched the amount of fat loss on a conventional balanced diet and a ketogenic diet is about the same. Therefore, total caloric intake is the key driver of fat loss. And if you overeat calories on a Ketogenic diet, you will still gain fat.

CALORIES IN < CALORIES OUT = FAT LOSS

Another popular belief is that a Ketogenic or any other low carb diet produces fat loss at an accelerated rate. Individuals on a keto diet will observe a weight drop of 500g-1kg within one day. However, this is mainly due to water loss from the body and not a true fat loss. Cutting carbohydrate intake affects water levels in the body. 

Every gram of carbohydrate stores 3 grams of water in the body, this can account for a lot of weight for larger individuals. Additionally, ketones themselves have a diuretic effect causing the excretion of water and electrolytes, including the excretion of sodium, which itself causes water retention. Therefore, a lot of weight drop which occurs initially on a keto diet is water weight. Once water loss has been taken into account, the rate of weight loss seen, as well as the total fat loss is generally the same for ketogenic versus non-ketogenic diets.

Hence, ketogenic diets do not appear to be superior to a conventional balanced diet in the scientific literature. Nevertheless, we should not forget that diets are followed outside the four walls of a laboratory and a Keto diet can offer certain advantages to a dieter.

 Supposedly Less Muscle Loss

As we mentioned earlier apart from generating a maximum fat loss, a diet should also ensure minimum muscle loss. When calories are cut to create a caloric deficit in the body (which includes reducing carb/fat intake).

The body experiences a scarcity of glucose and in order to make up for it, it starts to break down protein for glucose production. This protein breakdown is what causes muscle losses. Since the body relies on fat oxidation for energy on a ketogenic diet, its glucose requirement goes down, consequently, the breakdown of protein for glucose production also goes down. Hence, a Ketogenic diet can have a more muscle preserving effect than other diets, especially on very low calories.

 More Satiety

It is not unusual for dieters to experience hunger pangs throughout the day during a fat loss phase, as you are eating less than your body needs. This makes adherence difficult especially if the diet is very low on calories and has lower satiety level.  A Keto diet has a relatively higher fat content than conventional diets and fat tends to digest slower, which means food stays in the stomach for a longer period, creating a sense of fullness and satiation. This can make adherence to the diet easier for some individuals.

Motivation Boost

As mentioned earlier a ketogenic diet can produce rapid weight drop in a short span due to fluid losses from the body. Although, it does not make much of a difference from a true fat loss perspective it can boost motivation significantly which will make an individual stick to the diet and eventually lose more fat. 

Who should do it?

Individuals wanting to drop a lot of fat in a short period.

As we discussed in the above section the key driver for fat loss is the number of total calories you consume. Dropping a lot of fat in a short period requires cutting calories drastically. Since a keto diet offers more satiety, it is suitable for this purpose. Anecdotally, individuals for a given amount of calories feel more full and satisfied on a keto diet compared to a conventional diet.

Physique athletes during the last stage of cut

Going below essential levels of body fat (sub 11% BF) requires severe caloric cutting, especially during the final weeks of cut. The hunger blunting, higher satiety and fullness effects of a ketogenic diet make it an ideal choice for the last stage of cut wherein a balanced diet would fail.

Getting photoshoot ready

It is a well-known fact that celebrities and athletes consume very low carbohydrate diet for few days before their photoshoots. The diuretic effect of Ketogenic diet reduces the water level in the body, making muscles appear sharper and more prominent.

Note: This will only work if you are already pretty lean i.e. below 14% body fat or men and below 25% for women.

High Blood Pressure & Type II Diabetes Patients

 Individuals suffering from high blood pressure can benefit from Keto Diet as it produces drop in blood pressure. Additionally, Type II diabetes patients can also benefit as Keto diet normalizes blood glucose and enhances insulin sensitivity. Still, it is highly recommended that you consult your physician before starting any unconventional diet.

Who Should Not Do It?

Individuals aiming for bulking or injury recovery

Insulin-like growth factor- 1 (IGF-1) is a potent and vital hormone for building new muscle tissues and other anabolic processes in the body. The liver produces IGF-1 but only in the presence of insulin. Since Keto diet restricts carbohydrate intake consequently suppressing insulin levels. Therefore, the keto diet is not ideal for a situation requiring tissue regeneration, like bulking or injury recovery.

High-Intensity Sport Athletes

Carbohydrates are the preferred and more efficient fuel source for the body. Therefore, athletes involved in high-intensity sports such as weight lifting, football, sprinting etc. are better off a keto diet.

Type I Diabetes Patients

Type I Diabetic Patients have a complete inability in their pancreas to produce insulin which can lead to a pathological condition called Diabetic Ketoacidosis. A healthy person on a Keto diet will have blood ketone levels of 5-6 mmol/dl. A person with Diabetic Ketoacidosis might have blood ketone levels up to 25+ mmol/dl. Such, high levels of ketone bodies in the blood can be detrimental to health and even cause death.

How To Design Your Own Keto Diet?

Now that we have gathered all the necessary information, let’s discuss how to design your own Keto Diet. It is fairly a simple task, ensure adequate protein intake and get most of your calories from dietary fat.

STEP 1: Fix Calories

We need to fixate on the number of calories you will be consuming (because it is all about calories in vs calories out). But first, let’s figure out your maintenance calories*

*Maintenance Calories: The number of calories your body needs to maintain your current bodyweight.

How to Calculate it?

• Take your body weight in pounds and multiply it by 9-14. The no. you multiply it by depends on your activity levels.
• If you’re a sedentary female (think office job) who trains anywhere from 3-5x per week: go with the lower end (9-10).
• If you’re a female who works a fairly active job or any job that has you on your feet quite a bit and you’re training 3-5x per week: go with the mid-range (10-12).
• If you’re a sedentary male (office job) who trains 3-5x per week: go with the low to mid-range (10-12).
• If you’re a male who works a fairly active job, and you’re training 3-5x per week: go with the higher end (12-14)
• For instance, you are an 85 Kg (~190 lbs) man with a desk job, who trains 3-5 times/week. Your estimated maintenance calories will be 190×12 i.e. around 2300 Kcal/day. For creating a decent caloric deficit let’s reduce 300 calories. Therefore, your daily caloric intake will be around 2000 calories.

STEP 2: Adjust Macronutrients

After fixing the caloric intake, now let’s break down those calories into macronutrients. Protein intake for most individuals will be 1g / pound of body weight. For an 85 Kg individual, this equates to 85 x 2.2 i.e ~190g protein per day. 190 g of protein will provide 760 calories to the body (1g protein = 4 Calories), meaning now we are left with 2000 – 760 i.e 1240 Calories.

Note: In order to lessen muscle loss from the body a minimum of 150g protein/day is necessary on a keto diet. Thus, even a 60 Kg individual needs to consume at least 150g protein a day.

These, 1240 calories need to be allocated to carbs and fats. The lower the carb intake the faster and deeper body will be in Ketosis. Let’s keep 50g carbs for a day, which will provide us additional 200 calories (1g carbohydrate = 4 Calories). The last 1240 – 200 i.e. 1040 calories will come from fats, this equals to 1040 / 9 i.e. 115 g fats (1g fat = 9 calories ).

Sample Indian Ketogenic Diet

Calories: 1700

Macronutrients

Protein: 160 g

Carbs: 60 g

Fats: 90 g

Upon waking up don’t drink or eat anything, after bathroom rituals record your weight.

Pre Workout

Whey Protein	1 scoop
Bread	2 Slices
Cheese Slice	1 Slices

Breakfast

Whole EggsAdd spinach or mushrooms	5
Fruit	One Serving ~ Nothing more than 100g
*Fibrous Vegetables	As much as you like

Lunch

Whole Chicken	200g
*Fibrous Vegetables	As much as you like

*Fibrous Vegetables

Asparagus, Brussel sprouts, Green beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Lettuce, Spinach, Cucumber, Eggplant, Mushroom, Green pepper, Red pepper, Zucchini, Celery.

Dinner

Paneer	200g
*Fibrous Vegetables	As much as you like

Snack

20g Nuts

Bedtime

1 Tablespoon Isabgol

Oil for Cooking: 20 g (corn oil, olive oil) 

Which supplements to take for Keto Diet?

Since a keto diet requires restricting carb intake which is a major nutrient. Consuming essential supplements will help in optimizing body processes and performance in the gym. For quality assured authentic supplements you can check out our store Nutrabay.com

Supplement	Dosage	Timing
Multivitamin	1 serving fulfilling daily RDA	Breakfast
Vitamin D	2000-5000 IU	Breakfast
Fish Oil	1000 mg	Breakfast
Electrolyte	½ Serving	Intra Workout
Creatine	5g	Post Workout
Calcium	1000 mg	Breakfast

Wrapping Up

So there you have it – everything you need to know about the ketogenic or keto diet! We’ve covered the basics, including what it is, how it works, and what foods you can and can’t eat. We’ve also talked about some of the potential benefits of the keto diet, such as weight loss and improved blood sugar control.

Of course, as with any diet or lifestyle change, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any major changes to your eating habits. They can help you determine if the keto diet is right for you, and provide guidance on how to make the transition safely and effectively.

That being said, if you do decide to give the keto diet a try, we hope that this guide has given you a good starting point. Remember to focus on healthy, whole foods, and to listen to your body as you adjust to this new way of eating.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to find a diet and lifestyle that works for you and makes you feel your best. Whether that’s keto, paleo, vegan, or something else entirely, the key is to prioritize your health and wellbeing above all else. Good luck on your keto journey, and happy eating!

[ux_products columns=”5″ cat=”405″ orderby=”sales”]