BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF A KETOGENIC DIET
9 beneficial effects of a very low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD)
On a very low carb diet (less than 50g/day) the body enters in to the state of ketosis, which is a completely physiological mechanism for providing energy for the organs.
Beyond weight loss resulting from such a diet, there are several other beneficial effects too.
General Disclaimer: Results and experience from the treatment may vary from person to person.
I briefly summarise these below.
1. Weight loss: There is no doubt that there is strong supportive evidence that the use of ketogenic diets in weight-loss therapy is effective. The weight-loss effect seems to be caused by several factors (listed in order of importance and available evidence):
- Reduction in appetite due to higher satiety effect of proteins, effects on appetite control hormones and to a possible direct appetite-suppressant action of the ketone bodies (KBs).
- Reduction in lipogenesis and increased lipolysis.
- Reduction in the resting respiratory quotient and therefore, greater metabolic efficiency in consuming fats.
- Increased metabolic costs of gluconeogenesis and the thermic effect of proteins.
2. Cardiovascular risk and disease: Several evidence point to beneficial effects of VLCKD via significant changes in the blood lipid profiles (like cholesterol).
3. Type 2 diabetes: Insulin resistance is the primary feature underlying type 2 diabetes, which means that muscle cells have an impaired ability to take up circulating blood sugar. This leads to the conversion of carbohydrates into fat instead of burning them for energy in the muscle. With VLCKD the symptoms of insulin resistance improve or often disappear completely. Other studies support the long-term efficacy of ketogenic diets in managing complications of Type 2 diabetes.
4. Epilepsy: They already knew about the beneficial effects of ketosis in the times of writing the Bible: Matthew 17:14-21 A Boy Is Healed 21 “ However, this kind [epilepsy] does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
Ketogenic diet is now considered an established part of an integrative approach along with drug therapy in the major epilepsy centres worldwide. Studies suggest that the metabolic mechanisms activated by ketogenic diets may influence neurotransmitter activity in nerve cells leading to 30-40% reduction in seizures compared with controls.
5. Acne: Certain food types (high glycaemic load and milk) have a nutritional influence on the development of acne. Ketogenic diet could be effective in reducing the severity and progression of acne and improving skin quality.
6. Cancer: Evidence suggest that the insulin inhibition caused by a ketogenic diet, could be a feasible adjunctive treatment for patients with cancer. It was capable to reduce tumour size in mice and may reduce tumour progression in humans. Insulin has been shown to stimulate cell division and it may also contribute by stimulating multiple cancer mechanisms, including invasion and metastasis formation. It seems a reasonable possibility that a very-low carbohydrate diet could help to reduce the progression of some types of cancer, although at present the evidence is preliminary.
7. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) : It is evident that any interventions that improve insulinaemia (high level of insulin in the blood due to carbohydrate consumption) and reduction of body weight may also be effective in reducing hyperandrogenism (male hormone overproduction), normalising ovulation and reducing the various symptoms of PCOS.
8. Neurological diseases : Emerging data suggest a possible therapeutic utilization of ketogenic diet in multiple neurological disorders apart from epilepsy, including head ache, neurotrauma, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, brain cancer, autism and multiple sclerosis due to neuroprotective effects.
9. Brain trauma : Ketogenic diet may reduce the incidence of long-term consequences, such as epilepsy.
Source: Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2013) 67, 789–796; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2013.116; published online 26 June 2013
General Disclaimer: Results and experience from the treatment may vary from person to person.