Diets: Doable Or Not?

We take a look at five popular diets and get the experts to weigh in on each.

- Amy Greenburg

1 The Keto Diet

The keto diet – not to be confused with the low-carb,high-protein Atkin’s Diet – involves significantly cutting carbohydrate intake and substituting it with fat. This reduction puts the body into ketosis, a metabolic state in which stored fat is burned for energy. The dieter is allowed to eat meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, cheese and plain yogurt, nuts, low-carb vegetables, and fats, while items that are off-limits include grains, beans, fruit, and alcohol.

What the experts say…

According to gastroenterologist DR ANDREA RAJNAKOVA and nutritional consultant VERONICA CAVALLINI of Andrea’s Digestive, Colon, Liver and Gallbladder Clinic, studies have shown that the keto diet is effective in reducing body weight, controlling type-2 diabetes, lowering cholesterol and lowering blood pressure when compared to low-fat diets.

However, they add that more studies are needed to fully understand the potential adverse effects and health benefits of the diet. “What is well known is that the keto diet can be helpful in treating seizures,” they say, “but, as a general weight loss plan, it’s still controversial.”

Drawbacks may include the dieter experiencing “keto flu”, which is a result of the body adapting to the low-carb condition. Symptoms, which can last a week or more, commonly include headache, weakness, irritability, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. Other symptoms can include fatigue, irregular menstrual cycles, sleep disturbances, and loss of electrolytes such as sodium and magnesium.

How doable is it?

These side effects make this diet very unsustainable in the long run, explains DR MELVIN LOOK, Director of PanAsia Surgery.