human
I've been hearing a lot about the keto diet, but what exactly is it?
assistant
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that has been used to treat epilepsy since the 1920s. It works by forcing the body to use fat as its primary energy source instead of carbohydrates. This results in a metabolic state called ketosis, which causes the body to burn fat instead of glucose (sugar). Ketosis can also be achieved through fasting or certain medications and supplements.