Fad diets come and go. If I had been asked a few years ago, I would have quickly told you that the keto diet was one of those fads. My prediction would have been that it would be long forgotten by now.
But that’s not the case. In fact, the keto diet remains one of the more popular options when it comes to weight loss.
Does this mean that the keto diet can be helpful for seniors?
The answer, like a lot of other questions that have to do with health, aging, and wellness, is “maybe.”
A keto diet has the potential to be very helpful for some elderly folk, but it really depends on what your goals are, what your current health looks like, and what risk factors you might have. It also depends on what your personal preferences are, what medical professionals familiar with your unique situation say, and many other things.
With all of this said, the keto diet might be right for you.
“Keto” is short for ketogenic. It refers to eating foods that are low in carbohydrates (think bread and pasta) and high in fat (like meat). It creates a process in the body called ketosis, which is a metabolic feature that is more efficient in burning fat than a normal, traditional Western diet is capable of. This might seem counterintuitive; eating fat to burn fat doesn’t make sense on the surface. However, for many people, it has proven to be a very effective diet. For kids, those with diabetes, and those that are pregnant, it can be unsafe. Please talk with a doctor before trying this diet. It’s not the right diet for everyone. In fact, some people really struggle when a keto diet is introduced. Although weight management and the health benefits that come along with it are important, not everyone sees the same results.
This diet isn’t just about losing weight. It’s about managing the health issues that can arise if someone is overweight. Obesity can create a lot of health issues for someone, but weight loss has the potential to avoid these things. A keto diet might be a helpful way to achieve these results.
To be clear, a keto diet isn’t the only way to lose and maintain a healthier weight. It is one of many diets designed to help with this.
If you have questions about how best to help an older loved one live a higher quality of life, please feel free to reach out to us. Our professional caregivers specialize in this. Whatever the challenges you and your family might be facing, we likely have experience in it. Professional care is what we do–and we’d love to help your family experience the benefits that come along with this.
Give us a call to talk more. We offer free consultations designed to help answer these kinds of questions. There’s no cost on your behalf. We would be happy to talk more and go over how care and guidance could help your family with your unique set of circumstances.
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