What is the Ketogenic Diet?

Learn about the ketogenic diet and why it's the best way to get healthy and lose weight.

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Timestamps:
0:00 I explain what the ketogenic diet is and how it works
1:10 When you get into fat-burning mode, you can go longer without being hungry or craving carbs
6:35 This is the purpose of getting into ketosis
7:00 High insulin leads to many health problems
8:20 I explain what to eat on a healthy keto

Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet that switches your metabolism from burning glucose (sugar) to burning ketones (fat). Keto makes it easy to burn fat, lose weight, feel energized, and combat insulin resistance.

Your body has way more stored fat than stored sugar (glucose). The average person has 90-100,000 calories of stored fat, but only about 1,700 calories of stored sugar. If you run your body on fat, you can go longer without being hungry or craving carbs. That’s the big advantage of keto.

Low-fat and low-calorie diets are high in carbohydrates. But carbs prevent fat burning! People on these diets struggle to maintain a healthy weight. They have to exercise more and often only lose water weight. This is why 98 percent of diets fail.

Lowering your carbs to 20 to 50 grams per day causes you to go into ketosis. The lower your carbs, the more you get into ketosis and burn fat.

The ketogenic diet simplified:
• Lower your carbs
• Eat moderate protein
• Get most of your calories from healthy fats

Many believe that a high-fat diet is unhealthy. But if you keep your carbs low, there are no risks associated with consuming healthy fats.

It takes three days to switch your body’s fuel source from sugar to fat, and you start burning your own body fat.

As soon as you consume too many carbs on other diets, your blood sugar drops and you become cranky and hungry all the time.

If you do healthy keto, you’ll burn fat, eliminate hunger and cravings, increase energy, improve your cognitive function, and reduce inflammation.

My version of keto is called Healthy Keto. Healthy Keto is a low-carb plan with healthy ingredients and nutrient-dense foods. Always choose high-quality foods on your keto diet.

The purpose of getting into ketosis is to normalize your insulin levels. Nearly 80 percent of the population has a pre-diabetic condition called insulin resistance. This condition happens when your body can’t effectively process insulin, leading to health problems like diabetes, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s, and others.

Explore my YouTube channel to learn more about the best foods to have on a Healthy Keto diet.

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:
Dr. Berg, age 56, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan, and is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

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Disclaimer:
Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients so he can focus on educating people as a full time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, and prescription or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Thanks for watching! I hope this helped explain why the ketogenic diet has many incredible health benefits. I'll see you in the next video!

[kurts]

I am a 14 year old who was 170 at my highest weight I tried anabolic recipes and they worked it just requires lots of discipline. Keto was rough when I started but it just made me absolutely hate junk food. Just a sip of cola would taste like liquid candy cough syrup. It just really shows the body was not made to have heavily processed food. As I am writing this I am at 125 and I am so glad I made this change at my age.

[markoliver]

My wife went on a gluten-free diet, and I went on it with her so we could eat the same things. Once I quit eating bread the hunger pangs dramatically reduced. I have since expanded to the keto diet. My heart palpitations have cleared up, and I have lost a lot of weight. The keto diet works.

[estherpykett]

Great video . I’m not 100 % keto but I’m slowly moving in that direction . My friends eyes almost blow out of their sockets when I tell them I eat 2-4 eggs a day cooked in Ghee and topped with Redmonds salt, pepper, Turmeric, veggies and sauerkraut ! I additionally take fermented cod liver oil . All these things have changed my vision dramatically . I’m 52 and no glasses

[stacys]

Lost 70 lbs last year. Gained 15 lbs back. Dr wanted me back on carbs. So had to go back on Keto with a calorie count which dropped 10 lbs off. Had to use Slim Fast Keto to get that water weight off but that was a week. Today, back on Dr. Berg’s Keto list of foods and will be eating 2-mad which is 2 meals/day and no snacking, 18 hour Intermittent fast. Lots of veg and salad, moderate protein and some fat but I do small to moderate fat and the scale will move. Eat nuts. He says 1/4 cup nuts per meal. I only use that once a day with my dinner meal, usually pecans in my salad. I’m a Type2 Diabetic. I run normal to nearly normal blood sugars. On December 15th, I will be off Diabetic meds for 1 year. I turn 64 years old next month. My blood sugars used to run 250-300 in the morning soaring to 425. My blood sugar in the morning now ranges in the 110’s and last night was 97. Huge difference. Just know this, I’m a retired ICU Nurse. Dr. Eric Berg knows his stuff. I can tell you this, He changed my life. My A1c is supposed to be under 7 at this age. In my case, I am consistently under 6. Perfect diet for weight loss and blood sugar reduction.

[melaniecox]

Amen, Dr. Berg. I have lost 43.2 lbs. in 143 days. Along with IF the cravings and hunger are gone. I have been fighting my weight for years with diets where I'm hungry and thinking of food all the time. Not on Keto. Thanks for all of your help. I am going to incorporate more exercising next. My A1C dropped from 7.2 to 5.8 in 3 months time. My husband loves what I'm cooking also. I can do this forever!!!! I am so thankful!!!!

[bunrisl]

a very yummy salad dressing with nutritional yeast. 1 part (Cup) each, flax seed oil, tamari soy sauce, fresh lemon juice (or natural ferment pickle juice) nutritional yeast : add tablespoon of mustard, teaspoon or more of cumin, splash of apple cider vinegar, (want thinner adda bit of water.) stores well in the fridge

[martinglenkenny]

I'm been feeling sick and unhealthy for a long time now, between fat liver, high cholesterol, with waist of 111 cm, after watched this video I decided to try the keto + fasting will start it tomorrow, thanks for your help doctor Eric

[carolync.jimerson]

I'm 74 years old been on keto and fasting for 6 months I've lost 30 lbs & feeling great thanks Dr Berg I love your videos & your products

[markrunyon]

I"ve learned so much from these video"s.Scrap the carbs, hunger goes away.Don"t eat unless your hungry-scrap breakfast extend your fasts over time.Such great info!

[cabbie]

I started keto a month ago and have lost 22 lbs so far and I've never felt this good in my life. I'm so glad I ran into this channel which is a life changing for me. Thank you Dr Berg for sharing your knowledge.

[diamondgreenchoreoqueen]

Just watched five of your videos back to back and I must say VERY INFORMATIVE. Thank you for being so candid and detailed. I’m ready. It makes sense. I’m grateful for your delivery and insight. Also happy to know you were where most of us are. Appreciate your approach…no pushy sales pitches, unrealistic ideas, nor sarcastic put downs. Thank you.

[reginapontes]

GREAT POST!!! Just saw Jillian Michael's video trying to destroy KETO making no actual factual backed data. You totally made a rational, scientic based argument. Thank you so much. You're saving lives. God bless you.

[breezy]

This is educational gold! I love your videos and free education. You don't find doctors who will do this without expecting to be paid! Thank you for caring and being genuine in wanting to see people's lives changed! You are appreciated far more than you will ever know!

[amadibao]

I was in Africa, and my bag was full of your knowledge. I even ask those with smartphone to visit your website. So many people are hungry of your health care teaching. Insulin resistance and blood pressure is number one killer in Tanzania.

[SandyCheeks]

I just shared this video with my whole family & besties! I'm so excited for us all to get really healthy. End blood sugar issues, memory lapses, heart/artery issues, cancer, auto-immune issues--you name it.

[Michael-sjbq]

Probably the best presentation of Keto / Fasting and general health I've heard. Been an RN for over 45 years with high nutrition studies. Thanks

[courtcomposer]

I love your videos. Extremely informative. My blood work has dramatically improved more form this than from medication. I wish this was taught at school. I wish MDs talked about this. This is true healing. Thanks so much!

[bambiforester]

Great video Dr. Berg. Everything you said regarding weight loss, cravings, and hunger is so true!! I’ve followed various diets for 15 years, and I couldn’t lose the weight due to hunger, cravings, and simply not budging the scale no matter how precisely I followed the plan. Then, bam! I started following your protocol, and I’ve lost 30 pounds in about 3 or 4 months. And, it’s been easy. Thank you 🙏🏻

[NewStart]

Okay... I'm 80 years old. 182 lbs. Not happy but know my physical condition is part of my unhappiness. READY FOR keto. I'll let you know how it goes. Beginning 11-28-2011. This change plus my faith in God's healthy plan for us, will spur me on to victory!!! Amen

[bartverleysen]

Thank you for being here for us man! Learned a lot from you. Keep up the good work