New diet fad: Go lazy on keto!

The pandemic period has witnessed a whole lot of food trends and culinary experiments, as most people were confined to their homes. Many even tried their hand at numerous fad diets, such as the keto diet, GM diet and intermittent fasting. And, lazy keto seems to be the new kid on this block!

A spin-off of the keto diet, lazy keto largely focuses on just carbohydrate intake, without having to count calories or any other micronutrients.

“The lazy keto diet is based on ketosis, a phenomenon that happens when your body stops using glycogen (carbohydrates) stored for energy consumption and begins to burn fat instead.

In this procedure, your body burns the fat you have stored, plus the fat you consume,” says nutritionist Dr Rohini Patil.

Elaborating further, clinical nutritionist Gauri Anand says, “In Keto, you have to consume your daily calories in the proportion of 5% carbs, 20% protein and 75% fats. But lazy keto is more flexible and focuses on being low carb. People limit their carb intake to 20-50g.

Ultimately, the goal is to induce a metabolic state or ketosis, in which your body mainly burns fat for fuel.”

While weight loss remains one of the key benefits, following the lazy keto diet does a lot more good than that, say experts. “If followed correctly, under the supervision of an expert, it can help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels as well as epilepsy seizures, for which it was originated,” says dietitian Vidhi Chawla.

However, many experts continue to be wary of it, just as in case of the keto diet, one of the main reasons being that results aren’t permanent. “Before you start this diet, consult your physician. It isn’t meant for those with cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol, hypertension etc,” opines Patil.

Chawla believes that one can’t stick to this diet for long. “Since you are only paying attention to your carb intake, you may eat lowquality fats unknowingly,” she says, asserting that slow and steady weight loss is healthier and sustainable.

WHILE WEIGHT LOSS REMAINS ONE OF THE KEY BENEFITS, FOLLOWING KETO THE LAZY DIET DOES A LOT MORE GOOD THAN THAT, SAY EXPERTS