As part of the cultural season of the Environmental Research Center

Mrs. Afaf AL-Rahman Ayoub-lecturer in the Department of Environmental Technology-ERC presented a lecture on Tuesday, 14/1/2020 at 12:00 entitled “Keto Diet-Its Benefits and Harms”. The lecturer stated that the keto diet is a diet system with low in carbohydrates, medium in protein and high in fat in which the body are being generally changed to a fat burning machine. The name of this system is derived from the ketone molecules that are stored in the liver as an alternative energy source when there is no primary energy source, glucose and insulin. This diet consists of three stages:

1. The no-carbohydrate stage where the amount of carbohydrates does not exceed 20 g.
2. Moderate carbohydrate stage where the amount of carbohydrates is between 20-50 g.
3. The phase of carbohydrates released where the amount of carbohydrates is between 50-100 g/day.

Despite the recent spread of this system in our society where many studies have shown the benefit of this type of diet to lose weight effectively without feeling hungry, there are many health warnings due to its use as it is not recommended to follow it without consulting a doctor. Symptoms of the keto-floating disease include feelings of low body energy, sleep disturbances, impaired cognitive function, digestive disorders and an inability to exercise.