Keto And Eyesight: Can This Diet Help Your Vision?

The ketogenic diet, commonly known as the low-carb diet, has been embraced by celebrities and endorsed by ophthalmologists for its potential to improve eye health. But does keto help eyesight? Research shows that a keto diet may help maintain vision in glaucoma patients by protecting retinal cells from degeneration. However, there is limited long-term research on the impact of keto on eye health, and individual results may vary. While some people have reported improved vision after starting keto, others have experienced impaired vision or dry eyes. It is always recommended to consult an eye doctor for specific concerns and to ensure a well-balanced diet that includes eye-healthy nutrients.

Keto can help protect retinal cells from degeneration in glaucoma patients

The ketogenic (or keto) diet has become a popular weight-loss trend in recent years, but its original purpose was to reduce seizures in children with epilepsy. The keto diet is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and can vary in protein content. This diet aims to put the body into a metabolic state called ketosis, where the body burns fat instead of glucose for energy.

Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes progressive damage to the cells that transmit visual information to the brain, leading to vision loss and potentially blindness. There is a potential connection between glaucoma and metabolic stress, with higher rates of glaucoma observed in people with diabetes.

Research led by Denise Inman from the Northeast Ohio Medical University in the US found that a low-carb, high-fat keto diet may help protect retinal cells from degeneration in glaucoma patients. The study, conducted on mice, showed that the keto diet protected the cells of the retina and their connections to the brain from degeneration.

The results, published in the journal JNeurosci, suggest that the keto diet may have similar benefits for human patients with glaucoma. The diet protected retinal cells by increasing energy availability. While further research is needed, these findings offer hope for a potential dietary intervention to help maintain vision in glaucoma patients.

In addition to its potential benefits for glaucoma, the keto diet also includes eye-healthy nutrients such as those found in fish, leafy greens, peppers, and squash. However, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and ensure adequate nutrient intake, as some individuals on the keto diet have experienced vision problems due to vitamin deficiencies.

Overall, while more research is warranted, the keto diet shows promise as a potential approach to help protect retinal cells from degeneration in glaucoma patients.

The keto diet can help control blood sugar levels

Research has shown that people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cataracts, and diabetes is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Diabetic retinopathy occurs when chronically high blood sugar and uncontrolled high blood pressure damage the retina's intricate blood vessels. By controlling blood sugar levels through the keto diet, it may be possible to prevent or even reverse this eye damage.

In addition to its potential benefits for eye health, the keto diet has been shown to help with weight loss, epilepsy, autoimmune disorders, acid reflux, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances. It was originally used to treat epilepsy, particularly in children who did not respond well to medication.

While the keto diet has many potential health benefits, it is important to maintain a balanced diet and ensure you are getting all the necessary nutrients. For example, some people following the keto diet have experienced vision problems due to a vitamin B1 deficiency, which was resolved after several weeks of treatment with B1.

Furthermore, there is limited long-term research on the impact of the keto diet on anything other than epilepsy. More studies are needed to fully understand the effects of this diet on eye health and other aspects of overall health.

The ketogenic diet can increase energy and normalise hunger

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat, and normal-protein diet that puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In this state, your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. This leads to weight loss and can also provide a more consistent and reliable source of energy throughout the day.

Glucose, which is derived from carbohydrates, is an inconsistent source of energy, leading to peaks and dips in your energy levels. By switching to ketones, which are produced by burning body fat, you can achieve a more stable energy supply. This can leave you feeling more energised and focused throughout the day.

Additionally, the keto diet can help normalise hunger. The energy provided by ketones is more satisfying and sustaining than that from glucose. This means you are likely to experience fewer hunger cravings and a more balanced appetite.

The keto diet has also been shown to have a positive impact on people with glaucoma. A study conducted on mice at the Northeast Ohio Medical University found that a keto diet protected retinal cells from degeneration. This suggests that the keto diet may help maintain vision in patients with glaucoma.

While the keto diet has potential benefits, it is important to maintain a balanced intake of nutrients. Some people on the keto diet have experienced vision problems due to vitamin B1 deficiency, and it is crucial to consult with a doctor before making any significant dietary changes.

Keto can improve mental focus

The ketogenic diet has been used for weight loss, to help patients with diabetes or epilepsy, and to reduce seizures in children with epilepsy. However, there is another benefit to this diet: ketosis for mental performance.

Ketosis for Mental Performance

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and normal-protein diet that puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. When carb intake is low, the body triggers a response similar to starvation, using fat instead of glucose as its primary source of energy. This process is called ketosis, where the liver converts fats to ketone bodies, which are then used as energy for the body and brain.

Ketones Improve Brain Function

The standard Western diet is deficient in essential fatty acids, which are crucial for the body and brain to function properly. Ketones can benefit those with neurodegeneration issues like epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and aging-related cognitive diseases. The production of ketone bodies can help in these cases because the brains of people with these problems can't use enough of the available glucose to handle cognition and perception. A ketogenic diet can then assist by providing a backup source of energy.

The increased fat intake from low-carb and keto diets has also been shown to improve brain function in specific ways. For example, a study published by the American Diabetes Association found that type 1 diabetics who ingested medium-chain triglycerides (derived from coconut oil) showed improved cognitive performance and preserved brain function during hypoglycemia.

Ketosis Helps You Focus

An unbalanced diet can lead to a lack of mental clarity, often showing up as brain fog, difficulty remembering important facts, or struggling to stay focused on tasks. These symptoms normally involve two factors:

• Glutamate, a neurotransmitter that promotes stimulation in the body and is vital for brain function and learning.
• GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), the main neurotransmitter in the body that reduces stimulation.

Ketones provide the brain with another source of energy and allow it to more efficiently process the extra glutamate into GABA. By helping increase the production of GABA, ketones can then help decrease the number of extra neurons firing in the brain and improve mental focus. This may even help reduce the presence of anxiety and stress.

Ketones Improve Your Memory

Ketone bodies may also reduce free radicals in the brain by improving the efficiency and energy levels of the mitochondria, which produce energy for the body's cells. Ketosis can also help make new mitochondria and increase ATP in your brain's memory cells. For example, a rat study showed that subjects given a diet of mostly ketones performed better in physical and cognitive tests than those fed a high-carbohydrate diet or typical Western diet.

Final Notes on a Ketogenic Diet

It's important to note that within the first few weeks of starting a ketogenic diet, as your carb consumption decreases and your body uses up the remaining glucose, you might experience some initial mental fog or headaches. This is temporary and usually due to your body flushing out electrolytes from the diuretic effect of ketosis, so be sure to increase your water intake.

The keto diet was originally used to treat epilepsy

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, and controlled-protein diet. It was originally used to treat epilepsy, specifically seizures, in children and adults. The diet was first used in this context in 1921 when Dr Russell Morse Wilder coined the term "ketogenic diet". However, there are records dating back to 400 BC that show physicians in ancient Greece using a similar diet to treat epilepsy.

The ketogenic diet is a special diet that helps to control seizures in some people with epilepsy, particularly those who do not respond to medications. It is usually prescribed by a physician and carefully monitored by a dietitian. The diet is stricter than the modified Atkins diet, requiring careful measurements of calories, fluids, and proteins. Foods are weighed and measured, and no other sources of carbohydrates can be eaten. The diet is typically started in the hospital, with the child fasting (except for water) under close medical supervision for 18-24 hours before the diet is started.

The name "ketogenic" refers to the fact that the diet produces ketones in the body. Normally, the body uses carbohydrates for fuel, but because the ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates, fats become the primary fuel instead. The body can work well on ketones and fats, and higher ketone levels often lead to improved seizure control. The diet can be adapted to all ethnic diets and for people with dairy allergies.

The ketogenic diet has been shown in many studies to be effective in reducing seizures in children and adults with epilepsy. Over half of the children who go on the diet have at least a 50% reduction in the number of their seizures, and some children become seizure-free. The diet may also have other positive effects, such as increased alertness, awareness, and responsiveness.

It is important to note that the ketogenic diet is not recommended as a primary anti-seizure option because patients often find it difficult to make drastic changes to their food intake or to stay on the diet due to its strict requirements and potential side effects like nausea, constipation, and fatigue. Additionally, the diet does not provide all the vitamins and minerals found in a balanced diet, so vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended.

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