The Truth About the Keto Diet: Does Science Support It?

Keto was all the rage... until it wasn't. If you haven't heard of keto, welcome to the diet that promotes the consumption of ground beef, olive oil and lots of cheese... sounds like a dream, right? Maybe not. Join Michael Aranda for a new episode of SciShow and learn the pros and cons of the keto diet, and what scientists have to say about it!

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[Submanca]

My father put me on the Keto diet about a year after I was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 8. My seizures went down and I always had energy. I am now in late 57 and consider myself thin and healthy. I rarely get sick and the diet has been a lifestyle most of my life.

[jakerideout]

End of video: Not one diet is perfect


All comments: Keto is the best diet

[timeout]

Something i wanted to add. It's almost impossible to do keto without cutting out ready meals and a lot of junk food. You are forced to read every label and it is shockingly difficult to avoid sugar.

[trevor]

I’m type 1 diabetic, or glucose intolerant. Keto is AMAZING for us. Blood glucose control is easy on Keto.

[zach]

This is a generally good video, except for the fact that you made it sound like keto is an all meat diet. You will eat more vegetables (mostly fibrous ones that have low net carbs) than you have in your entire life on keto.

[biggreenblob]

I have been following a keto diet for 6 months, and i am quite sure that during those months I have eaten more vegetables than in the previous 29 years of my life. I eat huge piles of (low carb) veggies 6 out of 7 days a week. Mostly leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. Also zuchinni, green beans, asparagus, eggplant, among others - as long as i keep my net carbs below 20. Thats the only number I worry about. I dont count calories, or anything else for that matter. I just limit net carbohydrates. I have a "cheat" weekend once a month, where I eat pretty much whatever I want, mainly something I have been craving, but cant eat on keto.
I have lost 85 pounds in these 6 months.
I have not added any exercise to my lifestyle, but my job is quite physically demanding, and requires me to walk multiple miles and climb 20+ flights of stairs every day.

[rad_lad_]

Keto isn't meat only. That's the carnivore diet, similar in that they are both low carb. Keto includes lots of leafy greens and certain nuts.

[anon]

Tried keto to clean up my shitty diet, and it was very informative. I learned a lot about bad eating habits, brain fog and food coma. I absolutely recommend that everyone goes ketogenic at least once to find out what it feels like

[LisaBeergutHolst]

Meanwhile the Inuit today suffer alarming rates of obesity since being forced to settle in villages where they are dependent on imported packaged food.

[realplastbox]

Saying keto has no advantage because there is little difference between test groups eating high carb and high fat while glossing over the the fact that most studies control total calorie intake is at best disingenuous.

People in ketosis spontaneously reduce their calorie intake because hunger is stemmed by stored energy being available for use. They don't magically lose more weight than someone restricting calories, but they do it without hunger.

[GoodIrishboy]

Great Video! Could you do one about fasting and/or intermittent fasting?

[ThisIsMeOnYoutube]

My wife and I have been on keto for 14 months. I have lost 190 pounds without exercise due to being disabled and I am no longer a diabetic (a1c went from 12.1 to 6.1). No more insulin, metformin, cholesterol meds, and blood pressure meds. My wife has lost 100 pounds and after 27 years is also no longer a diabetic and is off all or her meds. Our doctor didn't like the idea when we first told him. He is now on keto and recommends it to his patients. For those that say there is no long term research on the effects of keto I say we were literately dying and now we are healthy. So we know keto works.

[ArcaneEther]

I've been on Keto myself for the past two years. I was diagnosed with Menere's Disease, an inner ear disorder, that caused me to experience painful, frequent vertigo attacks. I was dizzy to the point of vomiting multiple times per day at random moments, it was misery.

After being on Keto for three months, the attacks just stopped altogether. I didn't need to take medication to fight them anymore. I haven't had a vertigo attack since.

Oh, and I also lost 60 lbs. after starting Keto. I know it's only anecdotal evidence, but it worked for me.

[thephoenician]

I've been on this diet for 4.5 months and honestly, it's the best one I could have picked, from 264.555lb/120kg down to 191.802lb/87kg

[Ash-fdww]

I grew up big, but eventually toned down to be thinner. All I can say is that, after 6 years the one major thing i notice is that the keto diet lead to me being less hungry overall. For that, I think it may have something to do with an effect in the ghrelin levels of some people.

[BaresarkSlayne]

In the word of Layne Norton: The diet that you can stick to is the diet that works.

[dragonboyjgh]

should be better for diabetics as well. No glucose spikes means no need for insulin.

[bigmike]

Keto has work for me and my wife. She lost 40 lb and I lost 80 in the first 6 months. We were strict with it for the first year and now we carb cycle. Best of Both Worlds. Plus we don't really crave sugar anymore. I think most people agree that that's a good thing.

[FaultAndDakranon]

Why does everyone forget to mention salads in the keto diet. It’s just low in grains and other carbs. The salads are how you continue to poop. Fibre is important.

[nanochox]

I've lost 80lbs with keto. The best thing about it is that your cravings reduce to a minimum.