Fats have been the subject of a lot of bad press in recent years. In addition many “healthy” foods are advertised with a low fat content…after all “cholesterol kills” doesn’t it? The reality is a lot more complex. It is true that too much fat can lead to arteriosclerosis (blockages of the blood vessels), which can lead to heart attacks or strokes, but fats also have an important role to play in nutritional health. Even cholesterol in controlled amounts is necessary and not as bad as people have been taught. The role of fats and their dietary importance is discussed fully in the section Understanding the Ketogenic Diet. For the moment, be reassured, the high fat content of the ketogenic diet has not been shown to be harmful.How does the Ketogenic Diet work?The food we eat provides the fuel used by our bodies for everyday activities, and the materials needed to help the body grow. Unlike cars which can only run on gasoline, the body is designed to use three main fuels including carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Carbohydrates are the primary component of sugars, starch, and flour which come mostly from plants. Fats come in two broad types: saturated fats, like butter, which mostly come from animals, and unsaturated fats, like corn oil, which mostly come from plants. Finally, protein comes mainly from animals and is represented by meat and fish. The preceding is a broad generalization and there are many variations, such as nuts which contain more than 50% fat.Who can use the diet?The diet has mostly been used for children between the ages of one and six years. The diet can be used in adolescents and adults, but is more difficult to maintain in older age groups because of social factors, and the tendency to cheat.The effectiveness of the Ketogenic Diet is variable from person to person. In some the response is immediate once ketosis develops. In others the full effect may not be seen for up to 3 months later. In most individuals, we can predict after one month if the diet is going to be helpful or not.Other indepth information and knowledge is available in the ebookLeia mais