A healthy body weight keeps health risks away and promotes the optimum function of all organs, boosts immunity and activeness. The benefits of maintaining healthy body weight are endless and also checks the proper functioning of other vital organs of the body. Excessive body weight, in the long run, can be related to lifestyle, underlying conditions, genetics or other health issues. It may be due to improper diet, Diabetes, lack of exercise or other conditions. However, maintaining body weight can avoid other health risks. Healthy body weight can help to battle Coronavirus as well.
According to studies, 72% of corona patients who were treated in ICU throughout the world were overweight or obese. According to doctors and experts, diabetic people are 60% more susceptible to Influenza infection. In the coming days, even if a vaccine is developed, overweight individuals will still have to take precautions. Those who are suffering from metabolic problems such as Diabetes, special conditions of Uric acid, kidney and thyroid have to take precautions in the future as well. This is because the virus has deeper penetration in fat tissues and it becomes difficult to eradicate its effect from there.
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obese above BMI 40, people with Diabetes, patients with hypertension and heart disease are at very high risk of Coronavirus infection and its severe symptoms. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure to quantify the overall health of a person using numerical value to assign to the defined category of health. The formula to calculate BMI = height ÷ (weight)².
The value obtained from BMI can be analysed as follows:
- Underweight: Less than 18.5
- Normal: 5 to 24.5
- Overweight: 25 to 29.9
- Obesity class 1:30 to 34.9 (Low risk)
- Obesity class 2:35 to 39.9 (Higher risk)
- Obesity class 3: 40 and above (Very high risk)
Carbohydrates are the immediate source of energy for the body and also one of the essential components of diet along with protein and fat. It is converted into sugar in our body as part of digestion. It acts as a quick source of energy. Since carbohydrates convert into sugar in our body, the excess sugar is converted into fat and stored in the body. Carbohydrate-rich food are rice, chapatti, bread, sugar and sweets.
In keto diet, carbohydrate intake is restricted to a minimum quantity. Food rich in high fat is taken; however, carbohydrate is cut to a certain minimum value. Keto diet is adopted for a quick and effective weight loss plan. In a keto diet the carbohydrate is drastically reduced and replaced with a fat-rich diet. It efficiently reduces blood sugar and insulin level in blood. The body becomes incredibly efficient for burning fat for energy. The reduction in carbohydrates puts the body into a metabolic state called ketosis. The metabolism is shifted from carbohydrates to fat and ketones.
Food with fewer carbohydrates and high fat content that can be inducted in a keto diet are curd, yoghurt, cheese, egg including the yolk, seeds, nuts, chicken, meat, seafood and vegetable that grow above ground. These food items are taken as a part of diet over certain days or weeks, while intake of other carbohydrates rich food is checked.
When a keto diet is followed, keeping carbohydrate intake well checked, the body starts to derive energy from sources other than carbohydrates, i.e. from fat in the diet. It starts to metabolise fat and convert it into energy to meet the body energy requirement. The extra fat stored in the body also starts getting utilised. A keto diet helps body metabolism in such a way that energy is derived from excessive fat stored in the body instead of the carbohydrate in the diet. Such a diet plan can help in quick weight loss.
A ketogenic diet also has other immense benefits in fighting Diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and cancer. It efficiently helps to reduce excessive body fat by enhancing body metabolism towards utilising fat already stored in the body. Healthy body weight provides optimum health and immunity. Keto diet is famous for quick and efficient weight loss plans and its rising popularity is rocketing.