Is keto diet good for athletes?
As an athlete, you tend to use a lot of energy during practice and running. You will need to remain healthy and active for you to be able to perform excellently. The keto diet if what one of the athletes use to enhance their health proficiently. But what is the keto diet? Is keto diet a better and faster way of helping athletes win? As an answer to this, it is good to go through what the keto diet is.
What is a ketogenic diet?
This is an eating lifestyle that aims to help your body use more of fats rather than using carbohydrates. It is said to be in a state of ketosis. Here the fats and oils are used as the main fuel source for athletes. However, for you to reach the ketosis state, your body must have more than 70percent of fats in the calories, minimum protein such as 0.9grams per day, and low carbs, that is 50grams per day. For example, an apple has about 25 grams of carbs. All this should be in your diet.
You should maintain and monitor your ketone levels to ensure that you are in the ketosis state. Note that following the keto diet is not only what you eat or not eat. There are several ways you can use to measure your ketone levels, such as using the blood ketone meter. This is one of the most popular accurate methods for measuring ketone levels.
What are the benefits that athletes gain from a keto diet?
Athletes go through hefty and vigorous training. This can activate an inflammatory process. This process is not healthy for them and may, at times, disrupt their practice. It is believed that the inflammatory process can easily be reduced by having the right diet. Keto diet is one of them. It has been said to reduce the inflammatory processes as well as reducing substantial levels of sugar in certain fats. The keto diet does not allow you to have foods that have a lot of anti-inflammatory elements.
Also, the keto diet helps athletes who might be having stomach upsets or digestive distress when training. In some people having very low carbs can result in these digestive problems. The keto diet comes in handy for solving this problem.
It is not healthy for athletes to have a lot of fats in their bodies. They will need to shed off the extra weight to remain fit for running. Taking the keto diet will help them lose excess fats, which is a health benefit. It will also help you become light as a runner, therefore, being able to run for longer distances.
Is keto good for athletes?
Yes, it is. However, as an athlete and you decide to go the keto way, ensure you follow the healthy way of it also. Eat some avocado, nuts, vegetables, fruits, olive oil, and meat. Also, ensure that you maintain a healthy way of eating curbs. You should eat them after and before exercise.
It will take time for you to adapt to the keto diet making it not advisable for you to start the plan just before a competition. This is the right diet for you as an athlete. All the best.