It's the latest diet trend and some fitness experts like celebrity Jillian Michaels is saying it's just a trend and doesn't have staying power.
However, a Houston doctor says if people with metabolic problems can be disciplined enough to maintain the keto diet, their health will improve.
The diet consists of almost no carbohydrates, just 20-30 grams per day. Dr. Steffanie Campbell, with Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, says the average American has about 40 grams per meal.
Instead of carbohydrates, the keto encourages a lot of fattening foods. Believe it or not, foods like sausage, eggs, ranch dressing and cheese are helping people like Michael Tracy, from Infinity Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Alvin, to lose weight.
“I was at 228 pounds, this morning I’m at 204 pounds,” Tracy says, noting he accomplished the weight loss in a little over two months.
He says it's helped his endurance for jiu-jitsu.
More importantly, researchers are amazed by studies indicating the keto diet is helping people lower insulin, eliminate seizures and control symptoms of illnesses including: PCOS, migraines and in a very small study, autism.
The new trend is something doctors have understood for a long time: By putting your body in ketosis, you basically burn fat instead of sugar. What they did not understand, was just how incredible the results could be.
“I had one [patient] that was on four diabetic medicines and they're completely off of them,” Campbell said.
Campbell said she has several diabetic patients controlling their disease with keto. However, she warns this diet is not sustainable.
“It's really hard to not have any banana, pineapples or whatever it is ever again in your life, right?” she said since most fruits are prohibited from the diet in order to remain in ketosis.
Tracy insists however, that he's never going back.
“I’m going to keep going. It's a lifestyle change,” Tracy said.
Campbell said the biggest mistake people make on the keto diet is overdoing the calories. She encourages good fats like nuts, oil, fish, avocado and staying below 2,000 calories a day for men and women.
She said to talk to a doctor before eliminating food groups. There are some people with illnesses who should not try the keto diet. For example, the diet could be dangerous for people with kidney disease.
