Ketogenic Diet: Pros and Cons (Or How to Bring Home the Bacon – Literally)

You know, diets are like country songs. They always seem like a good idea, until you’re three days in, crying into your kale smoothie, wondering where you went wrong. So let’s talk about the ketogenic diet. If you’ve been living under a rock or, God forbid, carb-loading, you might not know what the keto diet is. Essentially, it’s eating so much fat that your body goes, “Whoa there, big guy, we got to do something with all of this.” And so, it starts burning fat instead of carbs for energy.

Pros: You Become a Fat-Burning Machine (And Not the Kind at the Gym)

Right off the bat, the great thing about the ketogenic diet is that it flips the food pyramid upside down. Forget everything your grade school teacher taught you about healthy eating. On keto, bacon is your best friend. Your lover. Your confidant. And broccoli? Well, it’s a necessary evil.

You know you’re doing keto right when your body goes into ketosis. Ketosis is when your body starts burning fat for fuel. It’s kind of like when your old jalopy runs out of gas on the freeway, and you’re forced to power it with your tears and remnants of your dignity.

Cons: You Might Be Smarter, But You’ll Smell Worse

Now, some of the smarty-pants out there claim that keto can boost your brain power. You’ll be able to calculate the tip at a restaurant faster than ever before! But let’s face it, it’s 2023, and you’re not using an app for that? Who are you, Rain Man?

There’s a catch though. One thing the pro-keto brigade fails to mention: you’re going to smell like a high school locker room. Yes, folks, ketosis breath is real, and it’s just as sexy as it sounds. If your idea of a good time involves explaining why your breath smells like you’ve been gnawing on a stick of unsalted butter, keto might be right up your alley.

Pros: You Can Eat All the Cheese You Want (Till You Can’t Stand It Anymore)

The biggest pro of the keto diet? You can eat cheese. Like, a lot of cheese. It’s like being French, without the cool accent or an inherent love of baguettes.

On the other hand, you might reach a point where the mere thought of cheese makes you queasy. This is also known as the “Cheese Threshold,” a phrase I just made up but feel should absolutely be a thing.

Cons: You’ll Miss Fruit More Than You Miss Your Ex

You remember fruit, right? Those colorful things that aren’t processed or deep-fried. Kiss those goodbye, my friends. On keto, a banana is more of a nemesis than a delight. If you thought breaking up with carbs was hard, just wait until you’re breaking up with apples. It’s like a bad episode of The Bachelor – only with more tears and less champagne.

Conclusion: Keto – Not Just a City in Japan

At the end of the day, the ketogenic diet is just like any other relationship. There will be ups and downs, stinky breath and too much cheese. But if you’re committed (or just really hate bread), the keto diet might be the one for you. But remember, just like in the world of stand-up, timing is everything. So pace yourself, and never ever forget, carbs are always ready to take you back when you’ve had enough of your cheesy new lover.

But don’t take it from me. I’m just a guy who once tried to go on a juice cleanse and ended up passed out in a Jamba Juice. So, here’s to the keto lifestyle. May your fats be high and your carbs be low. Cheers!