The ketogenic diet, also called the keto diet, has become a very popular weight-loss diet in recent years, but it’s not new. It was developed by scientists more than 100 years ago as a treatment for epilepsy.
Since then, researchers have found that the high-fat, low-carb diet may improve other health conditions as well.
At Weston Medical Health & Wellness, our experienced internal medicine physician, Dr. Andrea Bretal, is an expert on the keto diet and has helped many people reach their health goals using the diet plan.
Here, we want to share some of the serious conditions the keto diet can improve.
1. Epilepsy
Glucose is the main source of energy for your brain. Carbohydrate-containing foods — grains, fruits, vegetables — are your body’s source of glucose. The keto diet restricts your intake of carbohydrate-rich foods, forcing the brain to use an alternative source of energy — ketones. Ketones come from fat.
Epilepsy is a serious brain disorder that causes recurring seizures. The ketogenic diet reduces seizure activity in people with drug-resistant epilepsy. It’s theorized that the lack of glucose in the diet alters communication between the neurons in the brain, decreasing seizures.
2. Obesity
Obesity is a chronic disease that increases risk of other health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. The keto diet is a popular weight-loss diet that can help people with obesity lose weight.
The diet promotes weight loss by restricting calorie and carbohydrate intake, forcing the body to burn its own fat as a source of fuel. The diet also subdues your appetite so you eat less.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious health condition that causes too much glucose in the blood that damages the body, increasing health complications like neuropathy and kidney disease.
The keto diet improves blood glucose levels in people with diabetes by reducing carbohydrate intake. It also helps with weight management, benefiting people with Type 2 diabetes.
4. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
People with NAFLD have too much fat in their livers. The accumulation of fat occurs when you consume more calories than you need.
Though excess calories from any source causes the extra fat in the liver, people who consume too many calories from refined carbohydrates are more likely to have NAFLD.
Research is in the early stages, but it’s theorized that the keto diet may improve NAFLD by decreasing energy and refined carb intake.
5. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormonal condition that affects the actions of insulin, the hormone that transports glucose from the blood into the cells, and increases risk of hyperinsulinemia (too much insulin in the blood) and Type 2 diabetes.
Early studies show that the keto diet improves hormone balance, insulin levels, and blood glucose in people with PCOS.
6. Prediabetes
Prediabetes is a reversible condition in which blood glucose is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Diet modifications, weight loss, and regular exercise can reverse prediabetes.
The keto diet improves blood glucose and promotes weight loss and may reverse prediabetes.
7. Alzheimer’s disease
There’s some research that suggests Alzheimer’s disease may develop due to problems with how the brain processes glucose. The keto diet may reduce Alzheimer’s disease symptoms by improving the brain’s metabolic function and reducing oxidative damage.
If you’re considering the high-fat, low-carb diet to support your health goals, we can talk to you about the diet and how it may help. Schedule a visit with our experts by calling the office today or requesting an appointment online.