As a nutrition coach, people are always asking me what I think of a certain diet.   

It’s not surprising.  After all, there are about 30,000 diets in existence so you are bound to come across one you haven’t heard of and want to get the skinny on it.   

Many diets are what I call “repackaged”—meaning they are similar to an existing diet, but just have a new name and a few different tweaks.   

Tom Brady’s “TB12” diet is a perfect example.  It’s basically the Mediterranean diet with a few small changes.   

Note that no one particular diet is 100 percent right for everyone, all the time.  Our biochemial individuality makes us unique in many ways, and what works for one person may be ineffective or downright disastrous for another.   

For example, some people are very sensitive to high FODMAP foods (such as fruits, honey, dairy, wheat, garlic, onions and legumes) and suffer gas and bloating, yet others can eat them with no problem. 

Plus your choice of diet largely depends on what you’re aiming to accomplish.  Of course, losing weight is far and away the most popular objective, but there are many other health concerns as well that are influenced by your diet.    

Generally speaking, as long as a diet provides a good variety of nutrients and enough energy for your body’s needs, and is centered on real (NEVER processed) foods, if it’s something that works for you, great. 

Now, one diet that people keep asking me about is… 

The Keto Diet

The idea behind the keto diet is to severely restrict your body’s consumption of carbohydrates (sugars and starches) typically to 20-50 grams a day so that it is forced to burn fat for fuel. 

Under ordinary circumstances, your body converts the carbs you eat into glucose and uses that as its front line source of energy.  But in the absence of any significant intake of carbs, your liver instead has to convert fat—from your foods and ultimately your spare tire or muffin top—into fatty acids and small fuel molecules called ketones.  

The ketones then replace glucose as your body’s primary energy source—this is known as the metabolic state of ketosis. 

Now it’s important to note that your brain is a “glucose glutton” and usually helps itself to all the glucose it needs.  But your brain can also use ketones as an effective energy source, so its vital needs are taken care of even in the absence of large amounts of glucose in your bloodstream. 

Since your intake of carbs will be greatly reduced, the other half of the equation is that you will be concentrating much more on good fats and, to a lesser extent, proteins.   

Now don’t let that scare you!   

Many people have been brainwashed to believe that meat and fats cause heart disease, but that’s simply not true.  That lie was based on a study from several decades ago that cherry picked data to present findings that would demonize saturated fats as causing heart disease.   

But what they didn’t tell you is that when ALL of the data were pooled together, the study showed NO significant relationship between saturated fat consumption and heart disease. 

Sugar is the real demon behind heart disease, and the keto diet has you avoiding it like the plague. 

Proteins and fats also fill you up better than carbs and keep you fuller longer—which also is great for weight loss! 

Is it for everyone? 

According to current research, the keto diet can be an effective way to lose weight and accelerate fat burning for most people.   

It’s especially helpful for diabetics and people with elevated blood glucose and insulin.  Many people who are full-blown or on the verge of Type 2 diabetes have seen their condition completely disappear with the keto diet.   

Other documented health benefits include: 

• Improved mental performance, due to a consistent supply of ketones to the brain, instead of carb spikes and crashes 
• Lower cholesterol and blood pressure 
• Increased physical endurance 
• Improvement in epilepsy 
• Fewer digestive issues  

Although the keto diet is pretty universally safe, people who take medication for Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult their doctors first before changing their diets. 

And the best news is… 

The keto diet is VERY complementary to the dietary suggestions in my Want to Lose Weight? Stop Dieting! and Great Taste No Pain systems! 

So you can be sure that even if you follow the keto diet, you’ll still be eating meals that are easier on your GI tract, and help pave the way for tip-top digestion and fewer symptoms of heartburn, gas and bloating. 

Make sure your bases are covered 

If you decide to try the keto way of eating, it’s important to make sure your body adjusts accordingly and has what it needs. 

For example, by severely limiting carbs, you may not take in as many B vitamins, vitamin C and various minerals.  

But you can ensure that your body has all the nutrients it needs by supplementing with a complete multi-vitamin and mineral formula like Super Core. 

Super Core provides a wide ranging, health-supporting blend of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as natural sources of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories! 

In addition, you may experience some constipation if you suddenly take in less fiber than you used to. 

But as long as you drink enough water, strive to eat a tossed salad everyday, and help your intestinal tract along with Super Shield PLUS multi-strain probiotic formula, you can help ensure that your BMs continue running smoothly and regularly! 

Ask for my help! 

If you feel you need guidance on the keto diet, I can help!  I have put together several helpful tools to guide you on making wise keto choices.  

If you want to talk to me about the keto (or any other) diet, book a FREE 30-minute consultation with me!  We’ll chat about your concerns and get you on a health-promoting path. 

Beware of the food giants 

As you would expect, the food giants have seized the keto diet as a golden marketing opportunity and they have created a variety of snack bars, chips, cookies, etc. that are all “keto friendly.” 

Don’t be fooled, my friend.  Even if these processed creations are allegedly keto friendly, they’re still processed food and about as good for you as eating shredded cardboard. 

Keep it real.  That’s how you will enjoy the best success from the keto diet or any other way of eating.  Nature always knows best. 

To your health, 

Sherry Brescia