ketogenic diet

noun

variants or keto diet

plural ketogenic diets or keto diets

: a diet that supplies large amounts of fats, moderate amounts of proteins, and minimal amounts of carbohydrates and that is undertaken for weight loss or to control seizures in treatment-resistant epilepsy

Note: As the body is deprived of carbohydrates in the ketogenic diet, insulin secretion drops and glycogen stores in the body become depleted. The body then enters a state of nutritional ketosis where ketone bodies formed by the metabolism of fatty acids replace glucose as the primary energy source.

A ketogenic diet, says [Robert] Atkins, burns one's fat stores and uses them as a source of fuel.

—Lisa Teresi Harris

The keto diet can be restrictive and requires that you carefully measure out the various macronutrients—fat, protein and carbohydrates—to keep your body in ketosis and gain the benefits of the diet.

—Elaine K. Howley

The center offers the latest medical and surgical treatments as well as the ketogenic diet—a special high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that helps control seizures in some people.

—The New York Times Magazine

Examples of ketogenic diet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, a ketogenic diet limits carbohydrate intake to 50 grams, which is 10% of the calories for someone consuming 2,000 kilocalories a day. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 22 Oct. 2024

Summary Keto cycling involves alternating between periods of strict adherence to a ketogenic diet and higher carbohydrate intake days. —Elizabeth Barnes, Verywell Health, 15 Oct. 2024

However, there are many possible short- and long-term side effects of ketosis and the ketogenic diet. —Brittany Lubeck, Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2024

If something as straightforward as a medical ketogenic diet could help more people like Matt get better, then the government at a bare minimum should not interfere with clinical research that costs the state nothing and is already underway. —David Baszucki, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ketogenic diet

noun

variants or keto diet

ˈkēt-ō-

: a diet usually for weight loss that is high in fats and low in carbohydrates

Medical Definition

ketogenic diet

noun

variants or keto diet

: a diet that supplies large amounts of fats, moderate amounts of proteins, and minimal amounts of carbohydrates and that is undertaken for weight loss or to control seizures in treatment-resistant epilepsy

Note: As the body is deprived of carbohydrates in the ketogenic diet, insulin secretion drops and glycogen stores in the body become depleted. The body then enters a state of nutritional ketosis where ketone bodies formed by the metabolism of fatty acids replace glucose as the primary energy source.