Wanting to go full-on low-carb and wanting to bring the whole family in? Are one of the teens that are looking at it for weight loss because of acne, help with mood swings, and fluctuating energy levels. So if you\’re someone like that, the best-suited low-carb diet would be the Ketogenic Diet!
Oftentimes, teenagers have different dietary needs than adults, but there are quite a few studies showing that low-carb diets are relatively safe and effective for them. Now you must wonder if keto is safe for teens, well, this article talks about the same, so read on and get yourself sorted!
Looking Closely At The Issue
For anyone who’s still in their adolescence should stop at a doctor’s office first thing before attempting any kind of change in their diet. Diets that include starvation can highly mess up adults, but they’re even worse for people that are still growing. Being empty stomach when you’re young can actually make you more prone to gain weight in adulthood.
Diets like the ketogenic diet have been proven both scientifically and anecdotally for quick fat melting and sustained weight loss. And with the increasing rates of obesity in teenagers and children, people are getting attracted to Keto.
Going to studies, in the past thirty years, the childhood obesity rate has increased more than two times, and nearly one-third of these teenagers and children are now obese or overweight. Overweight teenagers are more probable to see chronic health problems later in life like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Analyses have also found that teenagers who are overweight or obese are also more likely to experience bullying and self-esteem issues in social scenarios.
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Is Keto Safe For Teenagers?
The keto diet has been found to be effective in teenagers. One research found that of a group of youngsters who went on the ketogenic diet, 60 percent of them underwent “significant” weight loss. And surprisingly, just about 21 percent of participants decided to end the diet in the middle.
Another surprising conclusion of the diet was that there was a drastic decrease in seizures; the dieters inscribed a 50-90 percent decrease in seizures after being on the keto diet.
Studies on obese adolescents have reflected the results of studies of the ketogenic diet of adults. The keto diet was found to be as effective for teens as much as it was for adults, and in at least one research, no teen chose to drop out of the diet as they were getting great results.
So yes, following a keto diet has been found to be both effective and safe in adolescents.
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What Does A Keto Diet Incorporate?
Diets that revolve around low-carb eating routines, like the keto diet, have been associated accurately with significant weight loss. The keto diet initially entered came under the spotlight around the year, 1920 as a treatment for epilepsy under professional medical supervision.
Lately, the keto diet has become a popular diet for weight loss. The keto diet is a low-carb, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet. It is a fat-based diet that fuels the body to consume fats instead of carbs to produce ketones.
The state of ketosis is the driving device of the keto diet, and the concept behind it is pretty simple. While your body is short on enough carbs to burn for energy, it starts burning fat as a substitute, which results in the production of ketones in the body which is used to fuel energy for all activities; this process is known as Ketosis.
So What Exactly Does A Keto Diet Entail?
- Meat, fatty fish: Eggs, beans, poultry without skin, fish, lean meats, unsalted nuts, seeds, and soy items. So if you eat meat, eat white meat, at any rate, multiple times more regularly than red meat.
- Along with dairy products like skimmed, low-fat milk, cheese, and cottage cheese.
- Also, Avocados, healthy oils, and condiments: Some healthy spices like turmeric, ginger, coriander, black pepper, etc. must be consumed.
Here Are Foods To Typically Avoid On Keto
- Lentils/Beans/legumes, root vegetables, most fruits.
- Grains or starches
- Anything that has Sugar, high-carb, or “diet” (or is overly processed)
- Eliminate your intake of trans and saturated fats, processed meats, and unnecessary sugars.
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Why Choose Keto For Your Kids?
Parents should choose to follow a keto lifestyle because it has shown to be an effective way to reduce the risk factors for disease and lose weight, as outlined in numerous studies for teens and kids:
- Low-carb diets can lower blood triglycerides.
- It regulates the optimum functioning of body organs and tissues.
- It helps in keeping up a healthy weight and helps prevent belly fat.
- Protein can reduce hunger pangs and prevent overeating.
- It is important for bones, muscles, ligaments, skin, and blood.
- A protein-based diet also helps in balancing the production and effective optimization of chemical enzymes and hormones.
- A low-carb diet can lead to an improvement in blood levels of \”good\” HDL cholesterol.
- For people with diabetes and insulin resistance, limiting carbs can lower insulin and blood sugar levels.
- A low-carb diet such as keto can be an effective way to lower the levels of blood pressure.
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Any Side-Effects?
The studies in this regard suggest that a teenager might not see a huge difference, while some teens might get better results with low-carb. But for safety, the most common side effects in the low-carb group were constipation/diarrhea and headache, which aren’t harmful and are on the milder side and don’t last for too long.
Note: Before going for any dietary changes, it\’s constantly suggested to consult a dietician or a medical expert.
Prior to beginning the diet, the doctor/nutritionist looks at the patient\’s blood work and takes various factors into consideration. The kinds and quantities of foods are simultaneously preferred and observed.
Limiting Carbohydrates In Children
The keto diet is safe for all ages, but some parents may still want to avoid the carbohydrates that their children are eating even if they are not overweight. Excessive consumption of simple carbs has been linked to enhanced rates of misconduct in children too.
So even if some parents choose not to start a keto diet for their children, it is still suggested that children who are overweight should have their carbohydrates controlled to complex carbs as much as possible. As complex carbohydrates take a bit longer to digest, this can help control hunger.
Also, overweight children should have controlled access to sugar-laden treats like soft drinks, pastries, and treats incorporating white sugar, because these foods have a tendency to cause weight gain due to their higher calorie count.
The bottom line? The keto diet can be safe and effective for both children and teenagers who are overweight. If your child needs to lose weight for his or her health, the keto diet can help wonderfully.
Get started on your own transformation today and stay tuned for weight loss journeys, health content, and keto recipes! While at it, go follow us on Instagram for the daily dose of the Keto Lifestyle!
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