Many celebrities including Halle Barry and Gwyneth Paltrow have been touting the weight loss benefits of the Ketogenic diet. But before celebrities began using the diet for weight loss, did you know it was first recommended for those with certain health conditions?

Originally created to help people with seizure disorders, the Keto diet can also benefit patients with pre-diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetes. Some studies suggest the diet may be able to help those with mental disorders like Alzheimer’s Disease, autism, bipolar disorder and depression, as well. 

The diet is very high fat (70-80 percent of daily total calories), low to moderate protein and very low carbohydrates (usually less than 5 percent of total calories). Because of the very low carbohydrate and very high fat content, the Keto diet changes what fuel your body runs on. Instead of glucose (a sugar), ketone bodies derived from fat become your body’s energy source. This process helps to stabilize blood sugar and decrease appetite allowing for more efficient weight loss.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight or you’re trying the diet for other health reasons, here are some tips that can help ensure you are successful with the Keto diet.