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Debating going Keto

2

Replies

  • Posts: 3,565 Member
    You might be interested in the discussion on this current thread:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10701339/keto-diet-good-or-bad/p1
  • Posts: 1,187 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    All diets work or don't work based on 1 singular factor - Do they (you) create and maintain a calorie deficit. Period. End of debate.

    If a diet helps you create a calorie deficit, then it will work. If it doesn't, then it won't.
    If a diet helps you maintain a calorie deficit, and is sustainable over a relatively long period of time, then it's worth doing. If it doesn't/isn't, then it's not.

    100%
  • Posts: 146 Member
    edited January 2019

    I always get such a sketchy feeling about non-medical doctors using their titles in a seeming attempt to boost their weight loss/nutritional credibility.

    Even "Real" doctors, like GP Family doctors.

    Most doctors get very limited education on Nutrition and are often instructed to follow USDA guidelines. They can get into serious trouble when they don't toe the guidelines.

    Which is unfortunate, since nutrition probably has biggest single impact on our health that we have control over. And there isn't a perfect diet that fits every person. We're all too different.
  • Posts: 414 Member
    hclay25 wrote: »
    I’ve just read lots of people having success over it. That’s the only reason I would consider it. I don’t have any medical issues or reasons to try it really.

    Just to start off, I am not dieting KETO, though I do think it is great for people who really find protein very filling.

    But, I often wonder if there is more to KETO than just the calorie deficit. A while ago (it may have been 9 months ago or so) someone posted a scientific medical journal article (not a woo article) which discussed the way in which the body digested food. I wish I could remember all the details, but the big take away was that people digest different macros to a different degree.

    People digest a higher percentage of carbohydrates, I don't remember the number, but just for discussion, let's say 80% of carbohydrates are digested, the rest passes through a person's system and is evacuated undigested. The article stated fat is digested at the next highest rate, let's say 70%. So 70% of fat is digested and 30% is evacuated without being digested. Protein is the hardest to digest, let's say 60% is digested, and 40% is evacuated without being digested.

    Does anyone have that article? And if that is the case, could we not say you could eat more protein calories than you can carbohydrates calories and get the same deficit?

    Thoughts?
  • Posts: 5,650 Member

    To my understanding, what our bodies don't digest is already taken into account when determining the calorie value of a food.

    The handful of nutrition labels I've looked at in this context support your statement - calories do not reflect undigestible content. FWIW, I'm in the USA looking at US food labels.

    It's often the reason why people complain that when they enter food into their diary, the macros don't correctly add up to the calories... i.e. 9*fats + 4*carbs + 4*protein does not = total cals
  • Posts: 1,377 Member
    Remember: This is MFP...you don't HAVE to follow keto or any other "additional" plan to play here.

    Saying that...if you're considering a certain kind, why not just give it a try for a given period of time, such as a month? You don't have to commit your entire life. See if it works for you. In the end, the only way you can find out is by giving a try.
  • Posts: 5,650 Member
    I think it's important when discussing these hot button topics that we be overly clear about what we are talking about.

    Does keto work? Depends on a lot of things, one of those things is what exactly you mean by "work".

    Most of us default to the context of weight loss... so we say things like "keto works if it helps you maintain a calorie deficit." That's true.

    Others come at it from the angle of overall health or how they feel while on keto or any of a number of things. Those aren't wrong... but can be a bit more subjective/individual, so it's important to make that clear. But those things are no more or less valid than is the weight loss context.

    Far too often, all these different contexts gets mashed into 1 conversation because someone makes an assumption, assuming that others are making the same assumption. So... let this be a reminder to all to be clear about what you are claiming/supporting/arguing.
  • Posts: 34 Member

    yep mine is at a minimum right now and I dont need meds yet(its been more than 10 years since diagnosed). but when I was doing keto I was in a LOT of pain. not so now as I no longer do keto

    Sorry, I wrote that poorly! I am doing keto and have been miraculously pain free since the second week I began. I am, however, on two different RA meds (plaquenil and sulfasalazine). I'm glad you're doing well without the keto diet!
  • Posts: 28,055 Member
    LynnJ9 wrote: »

    Just to start off, I am not dieting KETO, though I do think it is great for people who really find protein very filling.

    But, I often wonder if there is more to KETO than just the calorie deficit. A while ago (it may have been 9 months ago or so) someone posted a scientific medical journal article (not a woo article) which discussed the way in which the body digested food. I wish I could remember all the details, but the big take away was that people digest different macros to a different degree.

    People digest a higher percentage of carbohydrates, I don't remember the number, but just for discussion, let's say 80% of carbohydrates are digested, the rest passes through a person's system and is evacuated undigested. The article stated fat is digested at the next highest rate, let's say 70%. So 70% of fat is digested and 30% is evacuated without being digested. Protein is the hardest to digest, let's say 60% is digested, and 40% is evacuated without being digested.

    Does anyone have that article? And if that is the case, could we not say you could eat more protein calories than you can carbohydrates calories and get the same deficit?

    Thoughts?

    Once a link is posted to the article I will share my thoughts :)
  • Posts: 35,765 Member
    kenyonhaff wrote: »
    Remember: This is MFP...you don't HAVE to follow keto or any other "additional" plan to play here.

    Saying that...if you're considering a certain kind, why not just give it a try for a given period of time, such as a month? You don't have to commit your entire life. See if it works for you. In the end, the only way you can find out is by giving a try.

    In general, I think that's pretty sensible and moderate advice. The one thing I'd say is that keto seems to be one of the more "technical" (for lack of a better term) ways of managing one's eating, with things that need to be done to actually get into a keto state, to avoid "keto flu", and that sort of thing.

    I'm not saying people shouldn't do it, and I believe that it works super well for some people (not just those with medical need, but some others). I have nothing against it (except for me, personally; low carb isn't my jam).

    I'm saying that it's easier to "test drive" eating modes that have simpler rules, in order to achieve/sustain that way of eating for a fair trial, and figure out whether they have the advertised benefits or are compatible with a particular person's enjoyment and nutrition. Even something like "whole foods plant based/no animal product consumption" are easier in that sense. There are things (in WFPB) that need to be understood in order to maintaing good nutrition (like B12 intake), but those are not things that will cause major problems during a month's trial, for most people.

    Again, I'm not saying that the relative complexity is a reason not to try keto, and I suspect most people will achieve low-carb (if not an actual keto state), but I think it is something people should think about, and be sure they understand that eating mode, as prep for a trial.

    I also suspect that the technical-ish aspect is something some people will enjoy. (That's not a criticism: I like the science-fair aspect of calorie counting, and that's part of what makes counting a good solution for me. Some other people hate counting, so it might not be the best choice for them.)
This discussion has been closed.