Are you a meat lover but need to lose weight? You could then find yourself in a quandary as most diets limit your intake of meat and other fatty food products due to the high fat and calorie content as well. That said, people who need to lose weight no longer have to be content with eating carrot sticks or lettuce, as they can now enjoy their favorite bacon and egg while still losing weight. The ketogenic diet, which once served as an epilepsy prevention eating plan, is now being used by people who need to lose excess weight. There are 2 types, the “long chain triglycerides” (LCT) and the medium chain triglycerides (MCT).

Ketogenic Diet Overview

In a normal diet, humans need to consume higher amounts of carbohydrates, as this acts as an energy source so that the body can function well and less fat, since fats are only stored in the body as a reserve for when the body it needs more fuel. . Since the body needs more carbohydrates, it processes the food group first, and therefore one feels hungry after a while, which is not the case in the case of breaking down high-fat meals.

On the ketogenic diet, this theory is reversed. One will have to consume more fat and trick the body into realizing that it has insufficient glucose to first break down fat and convert it into energy. The first diet, which is LCT, deals with a high fat content, a low carbohydrate content and an adequate amount of protein. Calories are restricted and fluid intake can also be taken into account. The strict diet generally makes use of strict meal plans taking into account the calorie and protein needs of the dieter per day. They are then divided into several meals of the day designed by dietitians.

On the Medium or MCT diet, the meal plans are less strict and structured, especially when it comes to calorie prescription; however, dieters should stick to the meal plan and substitute as needed. Unlike LCT which makes use of complex fats, MCT makes use of fats that have higher ketones, the most popular use for coconut oil. Some dieters develop an intolerance to the MCT diet; As such, dietitians make use of the John Radcliffe diet. The John Radcliffe diet is a combination of LCT (30%) and MCT (30%) rations with the rest coming from protein and carbohydrates.