There’s no denying that the keto diet reigns as one of the most popular and highly researched diets out there right now, especially when it comes to women’s health. The experts at Keto Goodies break down the keto diet and the benefits it can have for women.
Before getting started, we must point out that the keto diet is not for everyone. We urge all our community members to consult with their physicians before taking on any kind of dietary and lifestyle changes. For those of you who are new to keto – the keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb, low-to-moderate protein diet that helps you enter and sustain ketosis. You can learn more about the diet in detail by checking out the education page on our website.
We know that the keto diet helps both men and women to lose weight, current research also indicates that the diet can help women specifically with many common conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and Alzheimer’s disease.
Let’s look at the two most common benefits of the keto diet specifically for women
Weight loss
Why is it harder for women to lose weight compared to men? If a man and woman start a weight loss program, stick to their calorie goals and exercise the same – the man is more likely to lose weight and do so faster. The science suggests this is due to a number of factors that men don’t have to overcome.
When it comes to weight loss, hormones have a huge role to play for women. Female hormones are tied to everything from reproduction to stress to metabolism, constantly fluctuating based on menstrual cycles, sleeping patterns and eating habits. The keto diet addresses this by putting your body into a state of ketosis, switching your body from being a sugar burner to a fat burner resulting in weight loss.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
Did you know that PCOS affects between 10 to 15 percent of women worldwide and up to 70 percent of those with the condition have insulin resistance according to a senior clinical dietitian at DHA. While no data is available for the UAE, the syndrome may affect more women in the UAE because of its correlation with obesity and diabetes.
What is PCOS? The syndrome is a genetic, metabolic and hormonal disorder that may cause irregular periods, fertility problems, weight gain and hair loss. Most often, the reason is due to insulin resistance which limits how effectively blood sugar is used for energy. Since the keto diet is essentially limiting your carbs intake, it is helping relieve the insulin resistance that can occur due to PCOS. It also promotes weight loss, helping the body reach your ideal weight and therefore reducing the risk of obesity and high blood sugar.
The bottom line
Regardless whether you think keto may be for you, it is important to note that every woman is different. We advise that you visit a physician to understand what is going on in your body physiologically, determine what lifestyle changes you can implement to undertake a holistic and sustainable approach towards improving your health and wellbeing. Regular exercise, limiting stress and avoiding high sugar and processed foods can improve your health substantially.