30 Seconds SummaryCarbohydrate Restriction: What is it Good For?
- The ketogenic (keto) diet involves a high fat, low carbohydrate intake, often used by individuals for epilepsy control and appetite reduction.
- Keto-adaptation, where the body uses ketones for energy, reduces sugar-related seizures and provides consistent energy levels and decreased appetite.
- While keto-enhanced fat and ketone use helps in some medical scenarios, it is not ideal for high-intensity or endurance exercise due to reduced carbohydrate breakdown.
- Long-term keto dieting increases enzymes for fat breakdown but decreases those for carb breakdown, affecting sprint and strength performance negatively.
- Metabolic flexibility, the ability to switch between fat and carb burning, may improve through aerobic training and deliberate periods of carbohydrate depletion.
- Strategically enhancing fat oxidation while balancing carbohydrate intake might enhance endurance and strength performance without full keto commitment.
- Ketogenic diets might be suitable for specific contexts like genetic disorders or very low-intensity endurance activities, but not for high-intensity workouts or most sports.
Biolayne
Eric Trexler
