The “Keto Diet'' garnered widespread attention a few years back, and with it, a host of claims that it could promote various health benefits.
As a health-minded person who struggles with fluctuating weight due to hypothyroidism, I wanted to try this diet that had the internet in an uproar. Any form of marketing that says, “Your body will use its fat as fuel,” will surely make anyone's ears perk up.
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your blood has a high concentration of ketones. It occurs when your body starts using fat as its primary fuel source—due to limited access to glucose or blood sugar—typically caused by fasting, following a low-carb/high-fat diet, or supplementing with exogenous ketones.
My Experience
I tried the Keto Diet over three months, following a diet primarily consisting of eggs, meat, and avocados, which became (expectedly) redundant and likely contributed to my dissatisfaction with the diet later.
It’s important to note that having hypothyroidism impacts my dieting experience significantly. When I was first diagnosed, it was uncommon to see the disease impact someone so young, at 19. It’s impacted almost everything in my adult life, including my mood and hormone levels. Lethargy and fluctuating weight are two things that I’ve always struggled with as a consequence of my hypothyroidism and found became exacerbated while on the diet. This is not to say that this will be everyone’s experience, but it is worth mentioning for others who may relate to my story.
These realizations reminded me that, with any diet, there’s no “quick fix,” and any successful diet should meet you and your lifestyle where you are.
Personally, given my medical background, I found the keto diet to lack much of what my body needs, which I will explore in another blog. However, I learned to listen to my body and pay more attention to how it responds to diet changes to find my sweet spot rather than relying solely on fad diets.
Final Thoughts
It’s worth noting that although the Keto Diet didn’t work perfectly for me, it has proven successful for others.
If you struggle to find ways to boost the number of ketones in your body and maintain ketosis or worry that the Keto Diet might be difficult for you to maintain, we at Sports Research have an entire line of Keto-focused products that can help:
Keto+
An exogenous ketone supplement that combines beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) salts with amino acids and chromium picolinate to help you reach your ketogenic potential in just one daily scoop.*
Keto Omega-3
A combination of c omega-3 fats from wild-caught fish (and krill-derived phospholipids for better bodily uptake), Coconut MCT Oil, and Astaxanthin for full-spectrum fatty acid support.*
MCT Oil
Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) are a type of fat derived from Coconut oil that help fuel the body and the brain, particularly for those following a ketogenic, low-carb lifestyle.*
In conclusion, do your research before trying any new diet plan, and only believe some of what you read because everyone and every BODY works differently.