Keto Means
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What is the best workout for keto?

Jogging, biking, rowing, and doing yoga are just a few examples of physical activities that may be especially beneficial on keto. While you can also include any other activities that you enjoy as part of your workout routine, you may find some high intensity exercises a bit more difficult on the ketogenic diet.

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This article reviews some of the ways that the ketogenic diet could affect your workout. While some claim that keto can boost fat burning and enhance endurance, others note that it could drain energy levels and make muscle growth more challenging.

However, its effect on athletic performance remains a subject of controversy.

The very low carb, high fat, moderate protein ketogenic diet has been linked to a long list of potential health benefits, ranging from improved blood sugar control to decreased hunger levels ( 1 , 2 ). Studies show that the ketogenic diet may improve several aspects of athletic performance.

May improve endurance

Although the ketogenic diet may not be suitable for high intensity bursts of activity, some studies have found that it may enhance performance for endurance athletes. For example, one study in 39 athletes noted that being in a metabolic state of ketosis improved physical endurance due to the body’s ability to use fat as an alternative source of energy ( 3 ). However, this was observed in the context of providing ketone supplements — not through following the ketogenic diet. Another study in 20 endurance athletes had similar findings, reporting that following a ketogenic diet for 12 weeks improved performance, body composition, and fat burning during exercise ( 4 ). What’s more, one review reported that increased levels of ketone bodies from supplements may speed muscle recovery and reduce the breakdown of protein following endurance exercise ( 5 ). On the other hand, some research has found that it could negatively affect performance in endurance athletes by impairing energy utilization and speeding time to exhaustion ( 6 , 7 ). Therefore, more studies are needed to determine whether the ketogenic diet offers any added benefits over other diets for endurance athletes.

May boost fat burning

Some research indicates that following a ketogenic diet may help boost fat burning during exercise. In fact, one small study in competitive race walkers showed that the diet increased the body’s ability to burn fat while working out, even during a range of different intensities of physical activity ( 6 ).

However, the ketogenic diet ultimately impaired exercise performance in these athletes.

Another study in 22 athletes found that switching to a ketogenic diet increased fat burning over a 4-week period ( 8 ). Of course, it’s important to keep in mind that the ketogenic diet comprises mostly fat, which may explain why more fat is burned during exercise. Therefore, just like any other diet, creating a calorie deficit by adjusting your intake to consume fewer calories than you burn is still necessary if you’re looking to lose weight on the ketogenic diet ( 10 ).

Can speed muscle recovery

Several studies have found that the ketogenic diet could help speed up post-workout muscle recovery. For instance, one small study reported that the ketogenic diet led to self-perceived improvements in recovery and inflammation after exercise in five athletes ( 7 ). However, it’s important to note that they also experienced reductions in other measures of performance, and there was no control group, which could skew results ( 7 ). Another study in off-road cyclists noted that the ketogenic diet reduced levels of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase — two enzymes used to measure muscle damage ( 11 ). Furthermore, a mouse study showed that following a ketogenic diet for 8 weeks increased muscle recovery following exhaustive exercise ( 12 ).

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Can too much protein make you smell?

ODOR: Bleach REASON: High-protein diets can produce a bleach or ammonia scent, a sign that muscle might be being used instead of fat for fuel, which can slow metabolism, making it harder to keep off weight.

Online message boards are filled with women asking why they smell since turning their diet and exercise way up (maybe too much?). "When odors are new, that can be a sign that your body is not functioning properly," says disordered-eating specialist Edward Tyson, M.D. Three common offenders:

ODOR: Booze

REASON: For extreme low-carbers: When ketones (the by-product of a body burning fat instead of carbs) become too elevated in the blood, they can release an alcohol-like odor.

ODOR: Bleach

REASON: High-protein diets can produce a bleach or ammonia scent, a sign that muscle might be being used instead of fat for fuel, which can slow metabolism, making it harder to keep off weight. (Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!)

See what happened when one woman tried the keto diet:

ODOR: Garlic

REASON: Picky eaters or those trying to restrict their calorie intake may over-spice the select (or bland) things they regularly consume, which can cause a garlicky aroma.

BOTTOM LINE

If you're catching weird whiffs, see your GP and, ideally, an R.D., who will help get your body running efficiently again. This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of Women's Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!

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