Everybody talks about keto diets these days. There’s always talk about how effective they are when it comes to weight loss, even celebrities love them. However, we live in a society that is always asking for more, and for this reason, it is no surprise that with these diets came a type of supplement that’s designed to boost weight loss. Keto supplements have taken the stand more than once as people tried to make sense of their effects. That’s what we’re going to figure out.
What Are They Made Of?
Keto supplements, like any other supplement, can be consumed as a capsule or as a powder. Their main purpose, as we’ll discuss in detail later on, is to put the body into a fat-burning state known as ketosis. How do they achieve that? By increasing the level of ketones and fats in the body it would focus its effort on using fat as its fuel rather than carbs. That being said, there are a lot of components that go into keto supplements, however, there are only two essential ingredients.
First off, we’ve got medium-chain triglycerides, also known as, MCTs. These are fats the liver finds effortless to just break down into ketones. They have a lot of weight loss benefits which is why they’re often consumed alone in the form of MCT oil. Second, we’ve got exogenous ketones. As the name suggests, these are synthetic ketones that put the body in the state of ketosis. Keep in mind that to get into that state, it takes days of low-carb dieting for the body to realize that fats are the only energy source available, and that’s when it burns fat, turning them into natural ketones. Ketone salts, or exogenous ketones, get you there almost instantly.
What Do They Do?
To determine whether or not they’ll help you with your weight loss journey, you need to know what supplements do and how they affect your body. As we’ve said, the purpose of keto supplements is to enable the body to access a natural fat-burning state. Naturally, this state is achieved through lowering carb intake as much as possible and depending on your fat intake for energy. Needless to say, that is exactly the purpose of supplements. They rewire your body into ketosis.
See, the human body always prefers to use carbs for fuel, it’s just easier. So, even if you’re following a keto diet, one cheat meal could take you out of ketosis which will greatly slow your progress. In fact, according to this article, ketogenic diets are notorious for being a pain in the butt to maintain. That’s where supplements come in. when the body is shocked out of ketosis, they ease the body back into ketosis by raising ketone levels and giving the liver a dose of easily breakable fats. It’s also important to note that research shows that MCTs reduce appetite and keep you satisfied for longer. In other words, they reduce the need for carbohydrate consumption.
Their Link to Weight Loss
We’ve already established that they contribute to weight loss, but we haven’t yet delved into their full effect. To begin with, we have to answer the main concern related to MCTs. If they’re fats, doesn’t that mean they’ll make you fat? Simply, the answer is no. Fats are good for us, they’re the reason we feel satisfied and happy after a meal. That’s why you don’t see people going around calling cucumbers their comfort food. Consuming MCTs help doesn’t only provide a healthy fuel source, but it also promotes fullness. Besides, the body doesn’t even bother to store these as fats.
Add to that, ketone salts have been shown to lower the levels of a hormone called ghrelin, the little guy that tells your brain it’s time for food. Take that away, and you won’t be as hungry at all. Now, what do you get when you add a decreased desire to consume food to a healthy diet and a sufficient percentage of fats and ketones? Wider clothes and lower numbers when you step on a scale.
How Effective Are They?
Well, that depends on what you eat. As in, you can’t expect to overeat every day, then pop a few pills and get a beach body out of the wahzoo. The word supplement means that whatever you’re taking is designed to supplement your diet, not replace it. Preferably, this diet should be one that’s ketogenic in nature. While the ingredients we’ve mentioned can help with any type of diet, their full effect can only be achieved through a low-carb, high-fat diet. As we’ve mentioned before, medium-chain triglycerides are a type of fats. They won’t make you fat, but they contain calories. With a high-carb diet, they might result in a calorie surplus.
Moreover, you should also make sure you’re taking an appropriate dose because, as we all know, too much of something good is bad. According to a medical article published by the Auckland University of Technology, when your ketone level becomes too high, the body adjusts itself to produce fewer ketones. High ketone levels lead to a lowered pH and more acidic blood, and that’s not good for your enzymes and your body as a whole. So, when the body realizes they’ve gotten out of hand, it reduces its dependency on fats as a prime fuel source. Of course, we don’t have to tell you that this is bad for your weight loss goals.
So, what should you take out of this article? Keto supplements will definitely help you on your quest to look better, but it all comes down to how you use them. To get the most out of the combination between diet and supplements, you need to maintain a healthy diet that’s low in carbs, as well as a healthy dose of keto supplements. And, with that being said, remember not to be too harsh on yourself when it comes to dieting. The last thing you need is for your brain to feel extremely depressed and deprived because that’s what leads to binging.
