5 reasons you should try the keto diet — and 3 reasons you shouldn't

It's safe to say we've all been hearing a great deal about the ketogenic diet lately, especially since it's been touted as a low-carb, high-fat diet which supposedly helps with shedding some extra pounds.

But if you aren't sure if you are a good candidate for the diet, INSIDER spoke to a handful of expert dietitians, nutritionists, and trainers about all the signs you should try it, and some other reasons why you probably shouldn't.

Here are some key things they recommend keeping in mind before you start researching some keto-friendly recipes online.

SEE ALSO: 11 surprising foods you can eat on the Keto diet

FOLLOW US: INSIDER is on Facebook

Try keto if you're dealing with inflammation.

"If you're feeling achy and sore, you'll love to know that ketogenic food plans help reduce inflammation," said Kelly Boyer, licensed integrative nutritionist and executive chef at PALETA. Sugar is pretty inflammatory, and since ketosis utilizes fat instead of sugar for energy, Boyer explained that a keto diet can put a stop to the surges of insulin from unregulated sugar levels that raise blood sugar and create inflammation in the body.

Try keto if your body stores fat well.

"If you have the type of body that stores carbs as fat easily, then the keto diet definitely might be a good fit," Lindsey Matthews, head trainer at IdealFit, told INSIDER. An endomorph body (big-boned) type definitely fits in this category she said, as this body type has a greater tendency to hold on to carbs and store them as fat.

Try keto if you enjoy high-fat foods.

"If you enjoy higher fat foods like red meat, bacon, avocados, and healthy oils, then you might want to give keto a try," Matthews said.

Eating high-fat foods when one is severely limiting carbohydrate intake can flip this switch from carb to fat use, she said, which can help promote greater fat burning in the long run. However, aside from using higher-fat foods as energy, she suggested that the body doesn't necessarily experience any other benefits from eating red meat, bacon, and avocados.

See the rest of the story at INSIDER