How does Keto diet really impact our health?
What is Keto…
The Keto diet consists of an eating plan based on fat and protein (strict keto) or sometimes plus a few amount of carbohydrates (low carb diet, non-strict keto). The goal is to get the calories from fat rather than from carbs. The reduction of carbs puts your body in ketosis, which is a metabolic process, where your body burns your fat in order to create energy.
Health benefits…
Reduce blood sugar levels and insulin: a ketogenic diet can help people with diabetes and insulin resistance. A study showed that people with diabetes type 2 had reduced their glucose medication after six months of doing the keto diet.
Heart health: The intake of healthy fats in the keto diet improves heart health by reducing cholesterol. A study on people taking the keto diet showed a significant drop in levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL, bad cholesterol), and triglycerides, and an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, good cholesterol). High levels of cholesterol can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Reduce cancer risk: For a while now, scientists have studied the impact of ketogenic diet on preventing and helping treatment of certain types of cancer. the ketogenic diet would be a good complement along with the proper treatment. The reason for this is because the ketogenic diet causes oxidative stress on cancer cells, leading them to die. Also, as mentioned previously, the ketogenic diet helps to reduce blood sugar levels and insulin, which have links to some cancers.
Brain function: the ketogenic diet can strengthen and protect the brain and nerve cells (neuroprotective benefits). A lot of studies are still being done in this field, researchers believe a keto diet may help a person prevent or manage conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Reduce seizures: This is the most common health benefit known for the ketogenic diet and a lot of people out there still believe the only goal of a ketogenic diet is to treat epilepsy (however it is not). The process of ketosis in which your body enters when doing the ketogenic diet is responsible for being able to reduce seizures and epilepsy.
Acne: Normally acne is linked to the amount of blood sugar in our body. Having a diet high in processed and refined carbohydrates will alter the balance of gut bacteria and cause blood sugar to rise and fall significantly (producing spikes), both of which can adversely affect skin health
