Author: Stephen Johnson / Source: Big Think
- The keto diet and intermittent fasting are two weight-loss methods that have gained popularity in recent years.
- Both can put the body in a state of ketosis, which leads to many of the same benefits.
- However, scientists are still researching both intermittent fasting and the keto diet, and it’s best to consult a doctor before making any drastic changes to your dietary habits – especially two changes at same time.
The keto diet and intermittent fasting are two popular, effective ways to lose weight quickly. Both methods bring upon similar changes in the body: more ketones, lower blood sugar and, at least anecdotally, improved mood and mental clarity. Both also call for less snacks, though the keto diet restricts which snacks you eat while intermittent fasting restricts when you snack.
It’s generally safe to experiment with either the keto diet or intermittent fasting (though it’s always better to consult a doctor first). But how safe is it to combine the two? First, let’s take a look at what both of these weight-loss approaches do to the body, and how those processes might interact.
The keto diet
In simple terms, ketosis is a metabolic process in which the body starts burning fat for fuel instead of sugar (glucose). Ketosis occurs naturally when the body doesn’t have enough glucose to use as energy, so it instead turns to stored fats, which it converts into ketones that are distributed through blood to muscles and other tissue. The keto diet triggers this process by calling for a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, which results in lower levels of blood sugar and insulin.
Although scientists are still researching exactly how ketosis affects the body, some studies suggest keto diets can:
- Decrease seizures among epilepsy patients
- Decrease acne
Cutting carbs is a sure way to put your body in a state of ketosis. Another way? Fasting.
Intermittent fasting
Three square meals a day is the norm in the developed world, but in terms of human evolution it’s a relatively new idea. The breakfast-lunch-dinner routine was likely established by Europeans, some of whom scoffed at the “uncivilized” Native Americans who didn’t have rigid eating times and changed dietary habits with the seasons. But, as Yale University professor and author of Food: The History of Taste Paul Freedman argues, there’s no biological reason for eating three meals a day at specific times.
Research shows that replacing rote eating habits with controlled fasting can be beneficial for your health, particularly through intermittent fasting, which can include fasting for several days at a time, fasting for 18 hours a day and eating only during the remaining six, and similar approaches.
Studies…
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