There are plenty of weight loss programs that people take part in to achieve their weight loss goals. Some of these include the Paleo diet, the South Beach Diet, and the subject of our article today, the keto diet.
So what is a keto diet?
A ketogenic diet, or keto, in short, is a type of diet plan that focuses on an increased intake of fats and protein and reduces the number of carbohydrates consumed per day. The body mainly uses carbs as a source of glucose for the body cells. In a keto diet, however, the objective of the diet is to force the liver to provide fuel for the body from fats, as opposed to carbohydrates. This is therefore the reason why the amount of carbohydrates consumed is drastically reduced and hence allows your body to move into a state of ketosis. This is where the liver becomes efficient at burning fat and producing ketones which will, in turn, provide energy for the brain.
A keto diet will typically have very small amounts of carbohydrates and will focus largely on an intake of protein as well as large amounts of saturated and unsaturated fats. This can range from healthy fats such as avocados, nuts, and tofu as well as oils from palms and coconuts.
What are keto supplements?
When you follow a keto diet, the body is forced to find alternative sources of fuel such as fat which leads to the production of ketones. These then act as an energy source for the brain and the body. Following a keto diet and sticking to it can however be quite difficult for many. Achieving a state of ketosis is also much more difficult and it can lead people to experience the ‘keto flu’. This is when people experience side effects such as nausea, constipation, fatigue, and headaches as a result of the drastic change in diet. As a result, many have turned to the use of keto supplements to achieve a state of ketosis to alleviate some of these difficulties.
How do keto supplements help one achieve ketosis and therefore burn fat? We have highlighted a few ways as described below:
1. Through the production of ketones
As described above, the state of ketosis helps to produce ketones which act as fuel for the body. There are two ways in which the body can produce ketones, either internally in your body, i.e. endogenously, or from outside the body, that is, exogenously. Production of ketones endogenously can be difficult as it requires a strict diet as highlighted above. Keto supplements, however, will help your body to produce ketones without necessarily sticking to the keto diet. Regular use of these supplements can thus help your body to burn fat.
2. By boosting your metabolism
Some studies have shown that keto supplements can help you lose weight since they may have the ability to increase the body’s metabolism as well as the resting metabolic rate. The keto diet typically leads to a lower calorie diet due to the reduced carbohydrate intake. A lower calorie diet often leads to decreased metabolism, since eating fewer leads to a decrease in the production of the thyroid hormone and others which play an important role in metabolism. Keto supplements however can help as well to limit this decrease in metabolism, therefore, allowing your body to burn more fat.
3 . Increases thermogenesis in your body
Thermogenesis is a process in which your body burns calories to produce heat. For weight loss, therefore people have turned to the use of certain foods or supplements to increase the process of thermogenesis and thereby, in turn burning more calories throughout the day. An example of such foods include eggs, chilli peppers, or drinks such as green tea. For a person on a keto diet, some supplements can help to kick start the process of thermogenesis, therefore leading to increased burning of calories.
4. Increase feelings of fullness
Some keto supplements help to reduce your calorie intake by increasing the feeling of fullness that you have. This can be achieved by influencing appetite hormones, either by suppressing the hunger hormone or increased sensitivity to the leptin hormone which is responsible for notifying your brain when you are full.
Our final note:
Before purchasing any supplements or undertaking a diet, it is best to consult a medical professional especially if you have an underlying condition. They are best placed to give guidance on what would work for you and can provide recommendations on some ideal supplements.
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