Keto's Dark Side: Esselstyn's Take On The Diet Craze

The keto diet has become a popular weight-loss strategy, but it comes at a cost to overall health. The high-protein, high-fat keto diet is overloaded with saturated fats, oils, acid, and cholesterol, which is a physiological parlor trick. People are trading years of vibrant life for pounds on a scale, which is not a trade worth making. The keto diet also increases the risk of cancers, bone damage, osteoporosis, and kidney diseases.

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a former surgeon and now a vegan evangelist, promotes a plant-based diet that is scientifically proven to prevent and reverse heart disease. Esselstyn's diet is strict and includes no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, or oil. He recommends a whole food plant-based approach with a focus on whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Esselstyn's diet may be challenging to follow, but it has shown incredible results in improving heart health and overall well-being.

Keto is a high-protein, high-fat diet that is overloaded with saturated fats, oils, acid, and cholesterol

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that has grown in popularity in recent years. It is often associated with quick weight loss and increased energy. However, it is not without its drawbacks and has been criticised for being a fad diet that may cut out many nutrient-rich foods.

The standard ketogenic diet typically consists of 70% to 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% to 10% carbohydrates. A high-protein variation of the keto diet involves increasing the percentage of protein and decreasing the amount of fat, with protein making up about 30% of calories. This version may be beneficial for bodybuilders or older people looking to protect muscle mass.

While the keto diet has been promoted for its weight loss benefits, it is important to note that it can be high in saturated fats and oils. The standard keto diet includes healthy fats such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, and nuts. However, some variations of the keto diet may include highly processed and prepackaged meals, leading to an increase in unhealthy fats and sodium.

The keto diet has been criticised by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, a former surgeon and vegan advocate. Esselstyn promotes a plant-based diet that eliminates all meat, poultry, fish, dairy, and oils. He argues that all fats, whether saturated or unsaturated, can damage the lining of arteries and contribute to heart disease. Esselstyn's diet is highly restrictive and difficult to follow, and there is limited scientific evidence to support his claims.

In conclusion, the keto diet, especially the high-protein variation, can be high in saturated fats, oils, and protein. While it may offer weight loss benefits, it is important to consider the potential drawbacks and long-term health implications.

The weight loss from keto comes at a major cost, and that cost is our overall health

The keto diet has become increasingly popular due to its rapid weight-loss effects. However, this weight loss comes at a major cost: our overall health. The keto diet is a high-protein, high-fat diet that is overloaded with saturated fats, oils, acid, and cholesterol. People are trading years of vibrant life for pounds on a scale, which is not a trade that anyone should be willing to make.

The keto diet is not only unhealthy, but it is also unsustainable. While people may initially lose weight on the keto diet, they are not getting any healthier. In fact, high-protein diets increase the risk of cancers, bone damage, osteoporosis, and kidney diseases. Consuming a diet high in saturated fats, oils, and cholesterol is detrimental to our health and can lead to serious health issues in the long run.

The weight loss from the keto diet comes at the cost of our overall health and well-being. While it may provide short-term weight loss, it is not a sustainable or healthy diet in the long term. It is important to prioritize our health and well-being over temporary weight loss.

Dr. Esselstyn, a former surgeon and now a vegan evangelist, promotes a plant-based, whole-foods lifestyle. His approach focuses on preventing and reversing heart disease through a strict plant-based diet that eliminates all animal products, oils, and processed foods. Dr. Esselstyn's diet has been scientifically proven to reverse heart disease, and his patients have experienced significant improvements in their health and well-being.

By following a plant-based, whole-foods diet, we can improve our health and lower our risk of heart disease and other chronic diseases. This approach focuses on eating whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables, while avoiding animal products, oils, and ultra-processed foods. It is a sustainable and healthy way to lose weight and improve our overall health.

High-protein diets increase your risk of cancers, bone damage, osteoporosis, and kidney diseases

High-Protein Diets and the Risk of Cancers, Bone Damage, Osteoporosis, and Kidney Diseases

High-protein diets have been linked to an increased risk of cancers, bone damage, osteoporosis, and kidney diseases. While protein is a vital nutrient for the body, it is important to be cautious of the amount and source of protein intake.

Cancer

Some studies have found a link between animal sources of protein, especially red meat, and an increased risk of developing cancer. A study found that people aged 50 to 65 who consumed a high-protein diet were four times more likely to die of cancer than those who ate less protein. Regularly eating processed meats, such as ham, hot dogs, deli meats, and bacon, may also increase the risk of cancer.

Bone Damage and Osteoporosis

Excess dietary protein, particularly from nondairy animal sources, can weaken bones and increase the risk of osteoporosis. A diet high in acid-ash proteins can cause excessive calcium loss due to its acidogenic content. This can lead to bone resorption and a higher risk of osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes bones to gradually thin and weaken, making them more susceptible to fractures.

Kidney Diseases

High-protein diets can also have detrimental effects on kidney function and long-term kidney health. High dietary protein intake can lead to intraglomerular hypertension, resulting in kidney hyperfiltration, glomerular injury, and proteinuria. Long-term high protein intake may contribute to the development of chronic kidney disease. Additionally, the quality of dietary protein matters, with animal protein being associated with an increased risk of end-stage kidney disease compared to plant-based protein sources.

Esselstyn's diet is scientifically-proven to reverse heart disease

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's diet is a nutrition-based therapy that has been scientifically proven to reverse heart disease. In his book, *Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease*, Esselstyn outlines a plant-based, oil-free diet that can prevent the progression of heart disease and reverse its effects. The diet is based on the results of his twenty-year nutritional study, which showed that those who complied with his program achieved total arrest of clinical progression and significant selective reversal of coronary artery disease.

The key to Esselstyn's program is eliminating all foods known to cause or promote vascular disease. This includes anything with a mother or a face (no meat, poultry, or fish), dairy products, and oils of any kind. Instead, the diet focuses on nutrient-dense plant-based foods such as vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and fruits. Esselstyn's diet is about as mainstream as you can get—for 4 billion of the world's 5.5 billion people, it is standard fare, and heart disease and other chronic ailments are almost unknown.

The proof of Esselstyn's diet lies in the incredible outcomes for his patients, including those who had been told by their cardiologists that they had less than a year to live. Within months of starting the program, all of Esselstyn's patients began to improve dramatically, and many remain free of symptoms years later. In addition to improving heart health, the diet has been shown to provide protection from a host of other ailments, including strokes, hypertension, obesity, and certain types of cancer.

While some may find Esselstyn's diet restrictive, the results speak for themselves. By following his program, thousands of people have been able to take control of their heart health and improve their overall well-being.

Esselstyn's diet is aimed for optimum heart health

Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's diet is aimed at achieving optimum heart health. Esselstyn is a former heart surgeon and current vegan evangelist. He is best known for his landmark clinical study and follow-up book, *Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease*, involving patients with advanced heart disease. In the book, he lays out rules for a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet.

The rules are as follows:

• You may not eat anything with a mother or a face (no meat, poultry, or fish)
• You cannot eat dairy products
• You must not consume oil of any kind
• Generally, you cannot eat nuts or avocados

Esselstyn's diet is based on his belief that all fats, whether saturated or unsaturated, will damage the lining of arteries. However, critics argue that there is nothing in the scientific literature that proves his diet prevents or reverses heart disease. They also point out that it is incredibly difficult to follow.

Esselstyn's diet is in stark contrast to the keto diet, which is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. While Esselstyn claims that oils are harmful and should be avoided entirely, the keto diet encourages the consumption of healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado, and nuts. The keto diet has been criticised for being unsustainable and even dangerous, with some studies suggesting that it increases the risk of heart disease.

Esselstyn's diet has been praised for its potential to improve heart health and reduce weight. However, it has also been criticised for being too restrictive and difficult to follow. Ultimately, the best diet for an individual will depend on their specific needs and health goals. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet.

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