Keto Diet: Transforming Health And Wellness

The ketogenic diet is a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. It was originally created to treat epilepsy almost a hundred years ago and has since been used to treat a variety of health conditions.

The keto diet is based on a high, steady supply of fat, a moderate supply of protein, and a very low supply of carbohydrates. When this happens, cells switch from using glucose as their main source of energy to using ketones, the product of fat breakdown.

- Epilepsy: The keto diet is considered an evidence-based treatment for epilepsy and is safe and tolerable for children. It can reduce the number and intensity of seizures.

- Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes: The keto diet restricts carbohydrates, so the body switches from using glucose to using ketones as fuel. This can lead to reduced blood glucose levels and improved insulin sensitivity.

- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: The keto diet may help slow the progression and reverse the effects of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by improving liver health and promoting weight loss.

- Cancer: The keto diet may cause oxidative stress in cancer cells, leading to their death. It could also reduce the risk of insulin complications linked to some cancers. However, more research is needed in this area.

- Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease: The keto diet may have neuroprotective benefits and improve brain and nerve cell function. It may also enhance neuronal energy reserves, which can help resist and recover from metabolic issues that affect brain health.

- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): A keto diet may improve several markers of PCOS, including hormone ratios and fasting insulin levels. However, more research is needed to recommend it as a general treatment.

Epilepsy

The ketogenic diet has been used to help control seizures in people with epilepsy, especially those who don't respond to medication. It is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, controlled-protein diet that has been used since the 1920s for epilepsy treatment. The diet is usually considered when at least two suitable medications have been tried and proven unsuccessful. The diet is typically used in children, as it is stricter and harder for adults to follow due to the restricted food choices. The diet is carefully monitored by a dietitian and prescribed by a physician.

The ketogenic diet is an established treatment for children with hard-to-control epilepsy, but adults may also benefit from it. The diet can be adapted to all ethnic diets and for those who are allergic to dairy products. The dietitian calculates the diet and tries to include foods that the patient likes. The diet typically includes plenty of meats, eggs, processed meats, sausages, cheeses, fish, nuts, butter, oils, seeds, and fibrous vegetables.

The diet works by producing ketones in the body. The name "ketogenic" means that it produces ketones in the body. Ketones are formed when the body uses fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. The body can work very well on ketones and fats. Research has shown that a particular fatty acid, decanoic acid, may be involved in the way the diet works.

The ketogenic diet has been shown to reduce seizure frequency and severity in many children and adults with epilepsy who don't respond well to drug therapy. Research shows that seizures typically improve in about 50% of epilepsy patients who follow the classic ketogenic diet. The modified Atkins diet (MAD) has been shown to be equally effective for seizure control in most adults and children older than two years.

The ketogenic diet may also have benefits for the brain beyond seizure control. For example, researchers have found improvements in various brain patterns in 65% of children with epilepsy who follow a ketogenic diet, regardless of whether they had fewer seizures.

Metabolic syndrome

The keto diet may help improve many features of metabolic syndrome. A 12-week controlled study found that people with metabolic syndrome who followed a calorie-restricted ketogenic diet lost 14% of their body fat, decreased their triglycerides by more than 50%, and experienced other health improvements. The keto diet may also help reduce abdominal obesity, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels in people with metabolic syndrome.

One small study found that adults with metabolic syndrome who followed a keto diet for 10 weeks lost more weight and body fat and lowered their A1C levels compared to those who followed a standard American diet. Another study of 45 obese participants found that those on a very low-calorie ketogenic diet lost about 27 pounds on average over two years, compared to less than 10 pounds for those on a standard low-calorie diet. The keto dieters also lost more visceral fat.

The keto diet may also help preserve lean body mass during weight loss, preventing a metabolic slowdown that can lead to weight regain. However, one review suggested that the health benefits of the keto diet may not be sustained over the long term, and it may lead to increased cardiovascular risks.

While the keto diet may offer potential benefits for people with metabolic syndrome, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet, as it can be restrictive and may not be suitable for everyone.

Alzheimer's disease

The ketogenic diet is a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, which has a fasting-like effect, bringing the body into a state of ketosis. The presence of ketone bodies has a neuroprotective impact on ageing brain cells and may enhance mitochondrial function, reduce the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic mediators, and have anti-tumour effects.

The ketogenic diet has been found to improve cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In a 2012 study, 23 older adults with mild cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to eat either a very low-carb ketogenic diet or a high-carb low-fat diet for six weeks. Those on the ketogenic diet lost weight and inches around their waist and also saw improvements in fasting blood sugar and insulin levels. Most importantly, performance on memory tests measurably improved in the low-carb group, with the greatest improvements among those who achieved the highest levels of blood ketones.

In another study, 15 patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease were fed a ketogenic diet supplemented with MCT oil for three months. All four subjects with moderate Alzheimer's dropped out; the intervention was too burdensome for their caregivers. But 10 of 11 with mild Alzheimer's stayed on the diet and experienced significant improvements on cognitive tests. However, a month after stopping the diet, those improvements were lost.

A 2021 randomised crossover study found subjects following a modified ketogenic diet had significant improvements in quality of life and ability to perform daily activities compared to when they followed a low-fat diet. They also noticed excellent compliance and no increase in side effects with the ketogenic diet.

In a 2018 study, 17 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease were given a six-month randomised controlled trial of ketone supplementation (30 grams of MCT a day). The brain's use of ketones increased with the 30g dose of MCT, and it is suspected that it may be even greater at higher doses.

A 2016 study in Japan found that a ketogenic meal with MCT oil improved cognitive function in 19 healthy, cognitively normal adults over the age of 60. Those with the worst cognitive scores prior to the keto meal showed the most improvement in working memory, visual attention and task-switching after the intervention.

A 2019 study showed no cognitive differences between participants given a single 50-gram dose of a ketogenic formula (containing 20 grams of MCT) versus control subjects fed a calorically matched placebo. However, the trial continued as a single-arm study and gave subjects 50 grams of the keto formula daily for three months, and some cognitive improvements were seen.

A small family study of three found that after four weeks of a keto diet, the subjects' parents, both then-aged 92, saw improvements in their cognitive functioning. Before the experiment, the mother scored in the high teens on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. After two weeks of ketosis, she went up by five points to 22/30 — a significant improvement. After four weeks, she slipped two points to 20/30, still higher than her original score pre-keto.

The application of the ketogenic diet to elderly people, however, raises certain concerns. Persons with neurodegenerative diseases are at risk of malnutrition, while food intake reduction is associated with disease symptoms. In turn, the ketogenic diet leads to a reduced appetite; it is not attractive from an organoleptic point of view, and may be accompanied by side effects of the gastrointestinal system.

Further research is needed to evaluate the suitability of the ketogenic diet in the therapy of Alzheimer's disease-affected persons.

Weight loss

The keto diet is advertised as a weight-loss wonder, and there is evidence to support this claim. The diet is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates. This combination of nutrients forces the body to use a different type of fuel. Instead of relying on blood sugar (glucose) as the main source of energy, the keto diet relies on the liver to break down stored fat into molecules called ketones.

Ketogenic diets may help you lose fat, preserve muscle mass, and improve markers of disease. Some studies have suggested that a ketogenic diet may be more effective for weight loss than a low-fat diet, even when total calorie intake is matched. One study found that people on a ketogenic diet lost 2.2 times more weight than those on a low-calorie, low-fat diet. Another study found that the low-carb group lost 15.2 pounds, while the low-fat group lost only 4.6 pounds over three months.

The keto diet can also lead to reductions in appetite and food intake. This is because ketogenic diets can help you feel full, supported by positive changes in hunger hormones such as leptin and ghrelin. Additionally, the keto diet can help reduce insulin levels, which can be beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity and blood sugar management.

However, it is important to note that the keto diet may not be suitable for everyone. It can be challenging to stick to and may not be sustainable for some people's lifestyles and preferences. There may also be some negative effects, including the risk of kidney or liver problems, dehydration, and constipation. Therefore, it is always recommended to speak to a doctor before starting any new diet, including the keto diet.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

The ketogenic diet may help with PCOS. In a six-month study of eleven women with PCOS following a ketogenic diet, weight loss averaged 12%. Fasting insulin also declined by 54% and reproductive hormone levels improved. Two women suffering from infertility became pregnant.

Women with PCOS following a ketogenic diet may experience weight loss, reduction in insulin levels, and improvement in reproductive hormone function.

However, only a few published studies confirm the benefits of low-carb and ketogenic diets for PCOS.

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