Assignment:
My topic is to pick a popular weight loss diet and evaluate it using the tools introduced in Lesson 1. There are so many different weight loss diets to choose from, but I will be evaluating the Ketogenic diet. It is very similar to the Atkins diet where you get most of your calories from protein and fat and avoid carbohydrates and sugar. In Lesson 1, we learned that the North American diet on average contains 16% energy from protein, 50% energy from carbohydrates, and 34% energy from fat. Your body will gradually run out of blood sugar which is your energy therefore means you are in ketosis when you eat less than 50 grams of carbs a day. This process typically takes three to four days then your body will break down protein and fat for energy. The weight loss occurs when you are in ketosis.
Per webmd.com, they state that the keto diet is a short-term diet focused on the weight loss rather than the health benefits. I don't think the diet provides an appropriate amount of all the nutrients and food groups since you must eat less than 50 grams of carbohydrates a day. Per our textbook, The Food and Nutrition Board of IOM has set the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of carbohydrates for children and adults at 130 grams per day.
This is the average minimum amount the brain requires to function properly. Consuming less than 50 grams of carbohydrates sounds very unhealthy if someone uses this diet as a long-term diet rather than a short term diet. In one month most people can lose ten or more pounds if they stick to the keto diet. I don't think it is realistic because it will be hard to maintain the weight that you lost if this is considered a short term diet. The short-term side effects to the keto diet is insomnia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, headaches, constipation, and dizziness. The long-term side effects include vitamin or mineral deficiencies, kidney stones, hepatic steatosis, and hypoproteinemia.