Content Overview:A ketogenic diet, or simply keto, is a diet that focuses on foods that provide plenty of healthy fats, adequate amounts of protein, and very few carbohydrates. The goal is to get more calories from fat than from carbohydrates.
Increasingly popular, the ketogenic diet works by depleting the body's stores of sugar and carbohydrates. If you are not taking in new amounts of carbohydrates and the body has depleted those in reserve, it will soon begin to break down fat as its new sources of energy.
There are several types of keto diet, including the standard ketogenic diet and the cyclic ketogenic diet. In thisBiopedia article, we will discuss the benefits of keto as well as the possible risks that this way of eating poses.
Ketogenic diet for weight loss
Adhering to a ketogenic diet can promote weight loss in several ways, including boosting metabolism and reducing appetite. Ketogenic diets consist of foods that fill a person up and can reduce hunger-promoting hormones by including foods that are rich in protein and healthy fats.
For these reasons, following a keto diet can reduce cravings and lead to noticeable weight loss. Large-scale studies have recently found that within a year, people who followed a keto diet managed to lose significantly more weight than those who followed a low-fat diet.
Ketogenic diet in the fight against acne
There are several different causes of acne, in many people it can be related to diet and blood sugar levels in the body.
Eating a diet high in processed and refined carbohydrates can alter the balance of gut bacteria and cause your blood sugar to rise and fall significantly, both of which can adversely affect the health of your skin and lead to acne, or make it slow and even impossible to treat if you already suffer from it.
According to a 2012 study, by reducing carbohydrate intake, the ketogenic diet reduced acne symptoms in a number of people who took part in the study.
Ketogenic diet to reduce risk of certain cancers
Researchers have looked at the effects of a ketogenic diet to prevent or even treat certain cancers. One study found that a ketogenic diet may be a safe and appropriate complementary treatment to use alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy for people with certain cancers.
This is because this type of diet causes more oxidative stress in cancer cells than in normal cells, causing them to die.
A more recent study from 2018 suggests that because the ketogenic diet lowers blood sugar levels, it may also reduce the risk of insulin complications. Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar, which may have a link to some cancers.
Although some research suggests that a ketogenic diet may offer some benefit in treating cancer, studies in this area are limited. Researchers need to conduct more studies to fully understand the potential benefits of a ketogenic diet for cancer prevention and treatment.
Ketogenic diet for heart health
When following a keto diet, it is important to choose healthy foods. Some evidence suggests that consuming healthy fats, such as avocados, instead of less healthy fats, such as cracklings, may help improve heart health by reducing cholesterol.
A review of a number of animal and human studies on the keto diet showed that some people experienced significant declines in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, as well as increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The cholesterol-lowering effect of the keto diet may therefore reduce the risk of heart complications.
Ketogenic diet for better mind function
Some studies have suggested that ketones that are generated during the keto diet provide neuroprotective benefits, meaning they can strengthen and protect the brain and nerve cells.
For this reason, the keto diet may help prevent or significantly control conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Ketogenic diet in polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal disorder that can lead to excess male hormones, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovaries.
There are not many clinical studies on the ketogenic diet and polycystic ovary syndrome. One pilot study from 2005 examined five women for 24 weeks.
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Researchers found that the ketogenic diet improved several markers of polycystic ovary syndrome, including:**
- Weight loss
- Hormonal balance
- Ratios of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Fasting insulin levels
Another 2019 review of studies found that the keto diet has beneficial effects on people with hormonal disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Although studies in this regard are scarce, many women suffering from the syndrome speak of the beneficial effects of this diet on their overall health.
