What Is a Ketogenic Diet?

Essentially, the ketogenic diet is a very low-carb diet plan that works by “tricking” the body into thinking it is fasting, through a strict elimination of glucose that is found in carbohydrate foods.

At the core of the ketogenic diet is severely restricting intake of all or most foods with sugar and starch (carbohydrates). These foods are broken down into sugar (insulin and glucose) in our blood once we eat them, and if these levels become too high, extra calories are much more easily stored as body fat and results in unwanted weight gain. However, when glucose levels are cut off due to low-carb dieting, the body starts to burn fat instead and produces ketones that can be measured in the blood.

When you’re following a ketogenic diet, your body is burning fat for energy rather than carbohydrates, so in the process most people lose weight and excess body fat rapidly, even when consuming lots of fat and adequate calories through their diet. Another major benefit of the keto diet is that there’s no need to count calories, feel hungry or attempt to burn loads of calories through hours of intense exercise.

In this episode of Ancient Medicine Today, I'll be talking about what the ketogenic diet is and what it isn't.

*This content is strictly the opinion of Dr. Josh Axe, and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Axe nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

[annemariesmith]

Another trick that I used to help break the sugar addiction is essential oils. The sweet aroma seemed to trick the brain and calm the cravings. I used lavender essential oil but I'm sure any sweet oil will do.

[lk]

Been doing this for over 2 months now, I'm down 32 lbs so far and am loving it. I don't find it hard to follow at all and LOVE the fact that I can eat avocados !

[KetoCookbooksCorner]

*It's essential to have a solid understanding of the principles and mechanisms behind any dietary approach, and your video offers a comprehensive explanation of the ketogenic diet.*

[Stuke]

Ive never personally attempted the keto diet but I have been in ketosis before because I practice extended periods of fasting (2-3 days only consuming calorie-free drinks and no food whatsoever.) You get extreme mental clarity as a result and energy levels are much higher.

[SamuelSchehrer]

Week 2 of Keto!! First week was awful, but I feel AMAZING now. So many physical, mental and spiritual benefits

[cathyweiss]

My husband and I have been using a therapeutic version of Keto (under 20 carbs) for 6 months. My husband has Parkinson's and we were hoping this would help his various issues. Amazingly he has gone from 202 to 174lbs, reduced his tremors by ALOT (85%). His mental clarity much better by finding words much more easily and sleeping much better!!
Dr. Axe has perfectly described the benefits here. We do everything listed. BTW I have lost 22 lbs weighing in now at 96lbs.
It's was NOT easy to transition from carbs to ketos so just brace yourself and take it slowly. Your brain will keep screaming for carbs so just ignore it and it will give up eventually. Thank you Dr. Axe !!

[sariputri]

This is the best diet for me. I have been doing it for 1 month and feeling so great. The bonus is I have lost 5, 5kgs. Will keep doing this lifestyle for the next 11 months and see the result on my overall health.

[kir]

I love this diet! Been doing it after I had a baby in July. I was 180 lbs with him (I think I was 155 pre-pregnancy) and now I'm in the 140's :))

[thepennyhomestead]

Thanks Dr.Axe for sharing. I started researching this a while back after coworkers started and had amazing results. I work in cardiology so I wanted to read about long term effects....I also suffer from PCOS that has run my life. Happy to say today is day one of the diet!

[anm]

Coconut and ghee are the main ingredients used in India in almost all dishes.. For infants brain development ghee is included. If you feel stressed eat one piece of coconut.. All the Prasad theertham from temples are coconut Tulsi milk seasme seeds till, koovalam, nanthyarvattam, thechy, jaggery, vegetarian

[kenoath]

Good Vid' man, I started your leaky gut diet over 12 months ago and lost some 8 kgs in 3 months! I felt great about it but wasn't yet feeling better for it, I didn't care about the weight loss just wanted my health back. It was recommended to me to look into Keto... I did and lost another 8kgs! and my health is much improved on all levels. Keto combined with leaky gut diet principles rocks!

[Estrella]

This is the most convincing presentation of the benefits of the Keto diet that I have ever seen.

[alrdyreg]

Dr. Axe,

I am beginning my kept diet starting yesterday. So, day two, but I feel great and I can see this working. That’s not what I wanted to stress on however. Your knowledge has saved my life. I suffer from a type of OCD and during a spike of symptoms I discovered your website. I discovered while searching for something to help with insomnia. This started a long life change that I have begun to integrate into my daily life. Food is medicine and I have put into my diet foods and supplements that have changed my life!! My OCD is so much more controlled now because of ... diet changes.

Herbal teas such as chamomille help me sleep so is there something else teas can do? Thanks to your site and information peppermint tea helped one night when I had some bad indigestion.

This is only the beginning of the list but the results are amazing. I look to your site for ways to improve my health. The changes I have experienced have even got my wife, who was never a supplement person, to ask if there was something out there for her.

Thank you, sir, for the time and the effort you put forth to educate us. It’s been a total life changer.

[susannec]

I like to eat keto myself it works for me but if you don't get like 7 cups of leafy greens in you'll be very constipated. I did " The 17 Day Diet" which would include poultry, plain yogurt or cottage cheese, salads and even fruit ( berries or the lowest on the glycemic index) before 2pm, and you were supposed to eat sauerkraut and green tea that was a good diet. I lost 8 lbs the first week and kept losing. but then it carb cycled after the 17th day. I didn't want to stop eating the ketogenic way and my weight plateaued then.

[silverwind]

Dr. Axe, you gave alot of info on the diet but you never actually explained the physiology behind the diet and how it works on the body. I think that's very important information in order for someone to determine whether or not this is a diet for them.

[Tacticalnutrition]

We have three macronutrients: fat, protein and carbohydrate. 2 of these are essential, as in you will die if you go long enough without them, and that is fat and protein. Carbohydrate is not a required nutrient. I have no problem eating carbs, and the keto diet is very hard if you're coming from the average American diet. However, the fact remains that overall the ketogenic diet is the best diet for health and longevity. Carbohydrates should be timed correctly especially if trying to add muscle!

[OldesouthFarm]

Amen brother... To clarify your mind and get into the zone, this diet is it!

[CDtheMan]

This is the only diet that I have ever come across that seems to make perfect sense as a lifestyle change

[maritzamaldonado]

Thank you Dr Axe, you are the best! I had questions about the Keto diet and today you answered them all for me. God bless you:)

[sylviajo]

Great video! Explains the diet well. I'm using this as my "go to" video to share when people ask about the keto diet.