The Keto Diet

In this episode of the Maintenance Phase podcast, hosts Michael Hobbes and Aubrey Gordon discuss the popular keto diet.The keto diet is a high fat, low carb diet that is often compared to the Atkins diet.However, it is more restrictive than Atkins and can be difficult to sustain in the long term.The hosts also discuss the origins of various diets, which mainly fall into four categories: low fat, low carb, cleanses/crash diets, and restriction of food groups.If you're interested in trying the keto diet, be prepared to track your macronutrients and closely monitor your calorie intake.

The keto diet is a high fat, moderate protein, and very low carb diet that aims to put your body in a state of ketosis.This means your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.The classic keto diet has a 4:1 fat to protein and carbohydrates ratio.When on the keto diet, you need to limit your carbohydrate intake, including vegetables that grow underground, and focus on high-fat foods like butter, cream, and fatty meats.There are different ways to follow the diet, including veggie-heavy or relying on keto-branded packaged foods.Some keto devotees refer to the latter as "dirty keto."

Ketosis is a state where the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose.The ketogenic diet promotes ketosis through a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.During ketosis, the body produces ketones as an alternative energy source for the brain and other tissues.To reach ketosis, it's important to limit protein, as excess amino acids in proteins can be converted into glucose, disrupting the balance needed for ketosis.The ketogenic diet was actually developed as a modified form of fasting to treat epilepsy in children, not for weight loss, and the transition to ketosis usually takes about a week.Ketone strips for urinalysis may not accurately measure ketosis; a blood test is the ideal way to test for ketone production.

In early 20th-century France, epilepsy patients underwent a restrictive vegetarian diet that involved fasting and purging.The diet showed little success, with only two patients showing reduced symptoms and most falling off due to its extreme nature.However, this was a time when "wellness" fads were popularized and even questionable health products like Coca-Cola were marketed.In the US, a man named Bernarr Macfadden, who had no formal training in fitness or nutrition, popularized fasting as a health trend.He founded a magazine and became an early American bodybuilder.His photos demonstrate a shift in muscular ideals at the time.

Bernarr Macfadden was a pioneer of the fitness and health culture.He believed in fasting, sleeping on hard floors, and not wearing shoes to improve one's health.He also started a magazine and wellness empire promoting physical fitness and raw food.However, his health advice was often not scientifically proven, and he had extreme beliefs, such as opposing vaccines and tobacco.His version of a fit man did not have giant muscles like The Rock, as gym techniques did not exist then.Today, we see similar trends in health and wellness, where some people promote extreme measures without scientific backing.

In the early 1920s, doctors found that a strict ketogenic diet reduced seizures in 95% of epileptic children, which is still used as a treatment today.The diet fell out of favor in the late 1930s due to the introduction of more effective anticonvulsant drugs that were not sedative-heavy, like phenobarbital.However, in the 1990s, a movie producer named Jim Abrahams put his son on a ketogenic diet and witnessed a significant reduction in seizures, leading to the formation of the Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies.A made-for-TV movie called First Do No Harm about the family's experience was directed by Jim Abrahams and starred Meryl Streep.

In the movie "First Do No Harm," a mother explores a ketogenic diet treatment for her epileptic son.The medical establishment resists the diet, claiming there is no scientific evidence it works, but the mother finds research from Johns Hopkins that supports it.The movie portrays a conflict between modern medicine and alternative treatments, but it is important to note that there is evidence to support the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy.However, it is also important to approach alternative treatments with caution and consult with medical professionals before making any decisions.It is vital to prioritize the well-being and interests of the patient in any medical decision-making process.

The ketogenic diet was created as a treatment for children with epilepsy, but it gained popularity in the weight loss industry because epileptic children who followed the diet tended to be thin and fit.Low carb diets like the Atkins diet and The Last Chance Diet also leveraged ketosis for weight loss, but The Last Chance Diet was responsible for the deaths of at least 60 people.Despite this, the ketogenic diet is now approved for use by the NHS in the UK and is covered by many US insurance plans as a last resort for kids with drug-resistant epilepsy.However, it's difficult to maintain due to its strict and often expensive nature.

Diets can be a gateway to disordered eating and full-on eating disorders.While some people may be able to adopt a modified version of a diet that works for them, many diets are unsustainable and can lead to gaining back lost weight or even death.The ketogenic diet gained popularity in the 2010s, fueled by a misleading press release stating that it could prevent age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.The diet was popularized in podcasts by biohacker personalities like Tim Ferriss, but it's important to remember that diets should be treaded lightly, especially with children.

In the early days of podcasting, there was a lot of hype and optimism around what technology and science could achieve.Many people believed in ideas like all college being online and cars being self-driving.One of the podcasters contributing to this phenomenon was Tim Ferriss.He had guests on his show who were proponents of the ketogenic diet and made exaggerated claims about its benefits.Ferriss’s show had over a million listeners, and the diet started taking off as a weight loss and optimization tool.However, the scientific claims made on the show were often flawed and took advantage of people’s misunderstandings of complex topics like cancer.

The Joe Rogan Experience podcast has a large reach among a specific group of young, straight, white, conservative men who often tend to follow the latest fad diets.As a result, the podcast's promotion of the keto diet helped it become a $5 billion industry, with supplement brands marketing themselves as Joe Rogan's favorite.However, there is little discussion about the potential risks of the diet despite the laundry list of considerations that it entails.Many discussions prioritize weight loss over health, ignoring potential health complications that could arise from following the strict diet.

The keto diet has some serious side effects that are important to consider before starting.The "keto flu" can cause dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and lowered tolerance for exercise.Bad breath and a phenomenon called "keto crotch" have also been reported.The diet can lead to losing not only fat, but also muscle mass.Additionally, it can cause liver, kidney, and gallbladder problems as well as increasing the risk of diabetes and heart disease.The diet is also low in fiber, which can cause constipation and diarrhea, and reduce cognitive function.Overall, it's important to weigh the potential risks before starting the keto diet.

The keto diet has become very popular in recent years for weight loss, but studies suggest it may not be safe for long-term use.Most research shows that the diet only works well for weight loss for 2-6 months before leveling off and performing similarly to a low-fat diet.Additionally, following the keto diet can increase the likelihood of developing eating disorders and bingeing behaviors.A 25,000-person study showed that those on a low-carb and high-animal protein diet, typical of keto, had a higher risk of early death.It is important to consider the potential risks before starting any diet, and the Mediterranean and DASH diets are considered healthier options.

The most sustainable diets are the ones that allow you to live a semi-normal life and include pretty much every food group.However, some diets like the keto diet can be costly and time-consuming, as you have to prepare your own food and it can be expensive.People who are the poorest and have the greatest barriers to accessing basic needs in their life are at the greatest risk for diseases and may not be able to afford this diet.It's important to do your own research and check sources before starting any diet, and be wary of people trying to sell it to you.