By: Emily Oberg
We’ve all heard and read about the ketogenic diet and how it’s supposed to be the best diet for losing fat and getting into perfect shape. The basis of keto is that when you eat a diet high in fat (olive oil, meat, butter, cheese and fatty fish) and low in carbs, your body will go into ketosis and start to use fat as an energy source, helping you shed those extra pounds. But just because it worked for a friend of a friend, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for you.
The same goes for all diets that you may have heard of- carnivore, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian and so on. We have to consider that even though we are the same species, we are all so different that there couldn’t possibly be one, universal diet for all of us. What we should eat depends on many different factors such as our genetic makeup, DNA, blood type, microbiome, where we live in the world etc.
It’s incredibly easy to become fixated on different wellness and nutrition trends that we see on social media. But we have to remember that just because your friend lost 15 lbs being vegan and has never felt better, doesn’t mean you’ll reap the same benefits. And just because someone has the “perfect” body and seems to be healthy, doesn’t mean they actually are.
If you really want to know what you should be eating according to your body type, I recommend visiting an integrative doctor or nutritionist who can do a series of tests to determine exactly what your body needs and wants. And if you don’t have the luxury of being able to afford to visit a specialist, be your own specialist and simply listen to your body. We talk about this a lot on this page but I cannot stress it enough. If your body thrives off of eating meat, then eat it. If you get bloated when you eat too many raw vegetables, being vegan clearly isn’t for you. If your energy levels are low and you get migraines, consider adding more fat and protein to your diet. Experiment with your body, try different things and see how your body responds.
The easiest way to do this is to keep a journal of what you eat and how you feel within a few hours of eating it. Write down if you go to the bathroom that day it not, if you feel bloated, tired or moody. This is a great and free way to find your own perfect nutrition plan. You also become more in tune with your body and it will be easier to recognize when something is off.
At the end of the day no matter what anyone says (including me), only your own body knows what’s best for it.
