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The Keto Diet
LifestyleFood & Drink

7 things you may not know about the keto diet

  • This high fat, low-carb diet lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, shifting the body’s main energy source to fat instead of glucose — a process known as ketosis. It delivers health benefits, including weight loss, but can be difficult to maintain. Here’s what you need to know.

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7 things you may not know about the keto diet
SCMP Reporters

From foods to eat to potential drawbacks and health concerns, here are the top things you may not know about the keto diet.

1. What do you eat on the keto diet and are there any drawbacks?

Lots of fat, some protein, and few carbs make the keto diet tough to sustain. Learn more
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Fish, nuts, eggs, and avocados all fit the keto diet, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that experts say can achieve weight loss but which may be hard to sustain over the long term. Photo: Shutterstock
Fish, nuts, eggs, and avocados all fit the keto diet, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that experts say can achieve weight loss but which may be hard to sustain over the long term. Photo: Shutterstock

2. Does the keto diet help you shed weight?

This teacher dropped 20kg, but used intermittent fasting, too. Learn more
Julien Schneider has eaten a lot more vegetables since being on the keto diet. Photo: Dickson Lee
Julien Schneider has eaten a lot more vegetables since being on the keto diet. Photo: Dickson Lee

3. Does the keto diet work long term?

If you are motivated, to beat disease, for example, you can sustain it. Learn more
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Oliver Smith, a professional musician, and his son, Liam, at home in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. Smith took up the keto diet seven years ago and, satisfied it worked, put Liam, then aged 11 on it. Liam’s epileptic seizures have since stopped. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Oliver Smith, a professional musician, and his son, Liam, at home in Cheung Chau, Hong Kong. Smith took up the keto diet seven years ago and, satisfied it worked, put Liam, then aged 11 on it. Liam’s epileptic seizures have since stopped. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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