The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that was originally developed in the 1920s as a treatment for epilepsy. It has become quite popular recently because several celebrities have publicly promoted it. The diet is also known as the ketogenic diet, low carbohydrate ketogenic diet or LCKD. Essentially, the ketogenic diet is a type of fasting where one consumes only protein, fat and carbohydrates while eating a specific ratio of each.
Ketogenic Diet and Weight Loss
The ketogenic diet is a well known weight loss diet and is considered more effective than other diets because it encourages weight loss by circumventing the need to eat calories. Fats and carbohydrates are 
strictly limited on this diet to promote the body’s metabolism of fat instead of sugar. This promotes weight loss by reducing sugar levels in the body. It also reduces the body’s glycemic response to foods, which decreases insulin levels in the body and promotes fat loss.
How the Diet Works
The basis of the diet is that the body produces ketones once its deprived glucose ( main source of energy for all body cells). Ketones acts as an alternative source of fuel. The brain requires a steady supply of at least 12 mg glucose daily. With limited carbohydrate in the diet, the body gets its glucose from stored the liver or temporarily breaks down muscle to release glucose. If the trend is maintained for 3-4 days, the body depletes all the stored glucose.
Consequently, the level of insulin hormone in the blood decreases prompting the body to use fat as its primary fuel. Therefore, by switching to a very high-fat, low-carb diet, your body, by necessity, shifts away from glucose and instead uses fatty acids and ketone bodies for energy.
Benefits of Ketogenic Diet
A ketogenic diet induce a satiating effect which reduce food cravings. The effects occurs due to the high-fat content of the diet. It also reduce appetite-stimulating hormones like insulin and ghrelin due to restricted intake of carbohydrates. The ketone bodies generated from the diet offers a direct hunger-reducing effect which helps in weight loss. The body has to convert fat and protein to glucose which increase calorie expenditure. Lastly, the diet promote fat loss compared to lean body mass due to a decrease in insulin levels.
The ketogenic diet has proven benefits for people who are looking to lose weight rapidly. However, some may find that adhering to this strict regime is difficult. For those looking to lose weight on a conventional basis, this may be an ideal solution as it promotes weight loss by circumventing the need to eat calories.
