As you know, I’m not a strict keto-er. I’ve dipped my feet in with a low carb lifestyle, but the strictness of Keto isn’t something I’ve ever been a fan of. With that being said, Keto delivers results. If you’re wondering if Keto is right for you, the answer is most likely “yes”. Even women in a thyroid cancer support group rave about this diet, because nothing else seems to work for weight loss when you have no thyroid.
Related: Free Keto Meal Plans
Who is the Keto Diet Good For?
It can increase mental clarity, lower blood sugar, and regulate your appetite. Sounds like the perfect diet, right? Chances are, Keto will help you – yes, you – lose weight rather quickly, but keeping it off long term can be tough. When I first tried the Atkins diet back in the early 2000s, I lost 20 pounds in a month. I was elated. I started adding fruit back in, bits and pieces at a time. Within a week, I had gained 10 pounds back – and the only thing I changed was adding a few pieces of fruit to my diet each day! While your results may not be that dramatic, consider a more relaxed approach (such as low carb) rather than Keto if you’re worried about maintaining your weight loss.
Is Keto Good for Women?
Keto is one of the most effective weight loss diets for women. As we age, we tend to gain weight around our mid-section, even if we are eating healthy. The thing is, carbs seem to stick with us more as we get older, which can cause a weight gain when the same diet previously worked.
A personal heads up about doing a Keto diet as a woman: watch out for the mood swings and Keto “flu” as you adjust to your low carb lifestyle. They don’t hit everyone, but when they do hit… wooooah. Many of us are mothers and we can’t afford to be crabby – and let me tell you when I do Keto, I’m super crabby. The phrase “super crabby” is an understatement at best, too. Whew.
Keep hormones in mind when changing to this diet. Read more about Keto and fertility from Well and Good.
Don’t worry, though, even on a restrictive diet like Keto, you can have whipped cream… YUM!
Is Keto Good for Men?
Almost every diet is good for men, it seems. It feels like they lose weight so much easier than we do. Keto is a diet that a man’s body responds particularly well to, and some men report having less flu-like symptoms than women.
Men’s Health has an entire article on why Keto is awesome for men.
Is Keto Good for Kids?
Did you know the ketogenic diet was first developed for children as an effective alternative therapy for reducing seizures in kids with epilepsy? The Keto diet has also been used as therapy for kids with Lennox Gastaut Syndrome, Glucose transporter type-1 deficiency, Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, and Dravet Syndrome. These are all conditions where the body does not use glucose efficiently.
Some doctors recommend Keto for kids and teens, while others say it’s absolutely not safe. Talk with your child’s doctor before having them start any type of low carb diet, including Keto.
Is Keto Good for Fast Weight Loss?
Yes, yes, and yes! Even though the first week or so is mostly water weight, Keto has one of the best success rates for big weight loss numbers. There is evidence that a low carb diet can increase your metabolism, too. The study published in BMJ found that overweight adults who lowered their carb intake and increased their fat intake burned more calories each day than those on high carb, low fat diets like Weight Watchers.
Keto helps reduce cravings, which means you’re going to eat less crap. That leads to larger amounts of weight lost, in smaller amounts of time.
Is Keto Good for Diabetics?
According to Medical News Today:
A ketogenic diet may help some people with type 2 diabetes because it allows the body to maintain glucose levels at a low but healthy level. The lower intake of carbohydrates in the diet can help to eliminate large spikes in blood sugar, reducing the need for insulin.
Keto can potentially change the way your body stores and uses energy, which can ease symptoms of diabetes. It may improve blood glucose levels and reduce the need for insulin. However, you should speak with your doctor before trying any new diet if you are diabetic.
You can read a story from Lele Jero, a Type 2 diabetic who tried the Keto diet and recorded her results via Healthline.
Is Keto Good for People With Thyroid Imbalances?
As I said above, women in my thyroid support group have raved about Keto for quite some time now. Nothing else really seems to work post thyroidectomy, unfortunately – especially during the first six months or so when they’re still new to figuring out your body and how much medication it needs daily.
All women, especially those with thyroid imbalances, may feel sluggish on Keto – especially at first. If you find yourself struggling to stay awake without a mid-afternoon nap, try an adapted version of Keto with “carb ups”.
You’ll need to do specific research for your lifestyle based on your activity, weight, etc but once you’re fat-adapted, you can start carbing up twice a week – always at night. I learned this from The Keto Diet by Leanne Vogel. If your library has a copy, I recommend checking it out. Amazon is my BFF so I grabbed a copy there, and have highlighted and dog-eared almost every other page. It’s been an amazing resource for my weight loss. I paid nearly $40 for it but last time I checked, it was on sale for less than half that!
Who is Keto Best for?
You’ve probably gathered that Keto is a great option for most anyone, if they want fast weight loss and can handle a fairly restrictive diet.
Low carb diets are also good for:
- — athletes
- — menopausal women
- — sugar addicts
- — and more!
In theory, Keto is a great diet for almost everyone. However, there are exceptions and each individual is different. If you’re unsure if you should try this way of eating, check with your doctor first.
Have you tried Keto? Let me know about your experience in the comments below!
More Keto and Low Carb Resources to help you!
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