Diets come and go. The Keto diet seems to be the latest sensation in the low-carb/anti-modern food diet boom. But why is that? Why do we always need new dieting fads, and why is it Keto’s turn now?
It’s because our consumption of food is changing rapidly. What goes in our body today is vastly different from 100, 50, or even 20 years ago due to an advanced production/transportation system that supports the food industry. With that change has come an increase in food allergies, obesity, and diabetes, among other health issues that weren’t part of the plan. New diets emerged as people become aware of “threats” within the ever-changing food market. Food production takes advantage of state-of-the-art technology to “modify” what we eat and make it available in excessive amounts anywhere in the world where there are paying consumers.
The enthusiasm for low-carb, Paleo or Keto diets suggests that we are consuming too many carbohydrates or modified foods that are causing serious health risks. For example, recently I developed an allergy to flour which has caused many different symptoms from headaches to skin rashes. And naturally, in a globalized economy, food-oriented health risks are also global. Traditional cuisines, which are usually considered healthy, are also changing and becoming increasingly unhealthy as they respond to consumer pressures.