Curious About Keto?

Low-carb diets Just. Keep. Coming. Back. The latest version is the hella-strict keto, or ketogenic, plan, first used to treat epilepsy successfully in the 1920s. Modern fans include Vanessa Hudgens and Kourtney Kardashian, who swear by it for weight loss, energy, and mental clarity. Regular peeps are into it too. Google searches for keto have soared in 2018. Read on to see what’s behind the buzz and whether you should dig in.

- Elizabeth Narins

How It Works

The idea is to launch your body into ketosis, a metabolic state in which you’re forced to burn fat instead of carbohydrates to feed your muscles and mind. For most people, eating carbs triggers a release of the hormone insulin, which turns those carbs into energy, says registered dietitian Amy Goss, PhD. To achieve ketosis, you have to starve you cells of carbs so they break down dietary and stored fats into molecules called ketones. “Ketones, like carbs, are a good source of fuel,” says Goss.

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