Meet the Ketogenic Diet

Recently, the ketogenic (keto) diet has been popping up everywhere – from news headlines and talk shows to social media and celebrity interviews. This trendy diet focuses on limiting carb consumption and increasing your fat intake. By limiting the amount of carbohydrates consumed, your body undergoes a natural process known as ketosis. Since your brain doesn't have enough glucose (which it gets from carbs) to burn as energy, it burns fat instead.

With the keto diet, the more fat you consume, the better. This food plan recommends you consume three to four grams of fat for every one gram of carbs and protein eaten. As a result, nearly 90 percent of your calories will come from fats – such as oils, butter, nuts and avocado. Foods to avoid include pasta, bread, rice, fruit and sugary foods.

If you're familiar with the keto diet, it's no secret that it helps people lose weight. Countless people have lost 10, 30 and even 50 pounds. Additionally, a handful of small studies have proved that the keto diet is an effective weight loss tool for people who are obese. But is it a healthy weight loss option?

Like most fad diets, the keto diet is surrounded by controversy. Although it's been proven to reduce seizures for children with epilepsy, many nutritionists agree that the keto diet shouldn't be used for weight loss. It's viewed as too restrictive and criticized for cutting key nutrients your body needs. It's also hard for most to sustain. Dieticians typically recommend finding a weight loss plan that you can stick with for the long haul, instead of yo-yo dieting.

If you're looking for a healthy food plan, start by consulting with your doctor or dietician.

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