Joining celebrities like Jillian Michaels and Kelly Ripa, Milla Jovovich has taken a stand against the keto diet. The actress told People in a recent interview that the high-fat, low-carb diet “can be hard to sustain.”
The diet restricts carb-based foods like breads, pastas, cakes, and certain fruits to induce ketosis, a process by which your body burns fat for energy instead of carbs. Many celebrities say it’s helped them lose a significant amount of weight, but, as Jovovich told People: “You kind of have to be an expert in nutrition.”
Why some people like keto for weight loss
Many like the ketogenic diet for its ability to induce weight loss, and quickly. Some research has shown that keto can result in short-term weight loss because of its ability to control hunger and improve fat oxidative metabolism. High-fat foods also have a satiating effect on the body, so you’ll stay fuller longer.
The keto diet has been shown to improve blood sugar control for those with type 2 diabetes, which is why celebrities like Halle Berry took a liking to it (she also credits keto for slowing down her aging process).
While following a keto diet may help you lose weight in the short-term and can be beneficial for some health conditions like type 2 diabetes, experts agree that the diet is incredibly hard to sustain, which is why many people including Jovovich opt for other choices.
Why a keto diet is hard to sustain
Think about how many carbohydrates you normally consume on the daily. The recommended carb intake on the keto diet is less than 20 grams per day, which is less than you’ll find in a single apple or banana!
Though high-fat foods like bacon, butter, and avocado are encouraged, the diet is extremely restrictive. Go off keto, and you could gain all those pounds right back. Nutritionists also don’t like that there’s no long-term research on sustaining a keto diet over time.
Even the short-term side effects of beginning a ketogenic diet are intense: Symptoms that can last days to weeks may include hunger, fatigue, low mood, irritability, constipation, headaches, and brain fog.
Food choices that are sustainable and better serve your lifestyle are encouraged. For Jovovich, a mostly veggie-based diet is the trick.
“I changed my lifestyle over a year ago to prepare for a new action film I’m doing called Monster Hunter that’s coming out in 2020,” Jovovich told People. “To be honest, I just found that making sure that 80 percent of my diet during the week is vegetable-based and everything else is just smaller portions, helped my skin, helped my energy levels, just helped everything,” she says.
The star also makes time to work out “every day” to boost her energy levels. “Mentally I just feel so much better,” she said. “I used to get overwhelmed and deal with depression, I just feel so much sharper.”
If you’re considering a keto diet, talk to your doctor first to ensure it’s best for your health and wellbeing.
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