More than just having the potential to reverse type 2 diabetes, the ketogenic diet or Keto Diet has multiple benefits which I have listed below.
This will be a good motivational booster or reminder during instances along the keto diet
journey when the going gets tough and throwing in the towel becomes a somewhat palatable option.
Don’t give up!
These are the good things
awaiting you at the end of the rainbow!
So, let's see the benefits of KETO DIET or KETOGENIC DIET.
Energy -
giving your body a better and more reliable energy source, you will feel more energized during the day.
Fats are shown to be the most effective molecule to burn as fuel.
Natural hunger suppression –
Like what has been elaborated previously, this feaure of the keto diet comes in really handy when your goal is to achieve some weight loss.
You can now do so without suffering from crazy
hunger pangs.
Fat is naturally more satisfying and ends up leaving us in a satiated (“full”) state for longer.
Sustainable weight loss and maintenance – Another thing that has it going for the ketogenic diet is the fact that you practically do not have to watch out for any sudden weight rebounds or crazy weight gains if you keep on track
with the diet.
The mechanics of ketosis does not allow that to happen, and of course, we are talking about normal meals in this site, not seven or eight thousand calorie food plans which would definitely upset the weight loss process.
You still can put on weight if you eat too much!
As your body is burning fat as the main source of
energy, you will essentially be using your fat stores as an energy source while in a fasting state.
Clearer thoughts in the mind –
Due to the neuroprotective benefits that
ketones actually confer on the brain, one of the additional advantages of going keto would be experiencing a sharper and clearer mind.
Thought processes are touched with more clarity, without the brain fog that is common
for folks on processed carb-rich diets.
Ketones burning more efficiently as
fuel also contributes to this enhanced mental clarity.
Experience better and more stable moods –
When the body enters ketosis,
the ketones generated for energy also help with the balance between two
neurotransmitters that govern the brain: GABA, also known as gamma-aminobutyric acid, as well as glutamate.
GABA serves to calm the brain
down, while glutamate acts as a stimulant for the cerebral system.
The trick to a healthy and happy brain is to keep these two substances in correct
balance, and ketones certainly help to achieve that end.
Improve energy levels and solve chronic fatigue –
Instead of having roller coaster spikes in your energy levels, the ketone fueled body will allow you to experience increased energy levels that stay more or less constant as long as
you have your meals when hunger hits.
Chronic fatigue also becomes a non-issue due to the elevated levels of energy.
Even if the chronic fatigue is a symptom of other diseases, many find that though it does not go away entirely, the tiredness gets better on the keto diet.
Get your inflammation levels down – When you ensure that you have the
adequate balance of omega-3 fats, these healthy polyunsaturated fats help to decrease the inflammatory response in the body system.
This makes for good news to those who are suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases.
Besides, the carb restriction would probably see your sugar intake coming way down, which will definitely help in reducing inflammation as well.
Lower your triglycerides reading –
With a reduced carb intake, the level of
triglycerides in the blood would automatically be lowered.
Triglycerides form when we have excess calories, usually from carbs, so that the body can begin
the process of storing the unrequired energy as fats.
When the body is fueled predominantly by ketones and not by glucose, the need for producing triglycerides actually reduces due to the change in dietary habit.
On keto, you eat when you are really hungry, and not because of wildly fluctuating blood sugar levels as well as the siren call of carbs.
Improve your lipid panel readouts –
Going keto will usually see your HDL
cholesterol going up while the LDL cholesterol levels will go the other direction.
There may be some instances where you will see both HDL and LDL levels increase, resulting in an overall increase in cholesterol levels.
Some folks have expressed concern on this matter and I would like to elaborate a little more on this.
LDL and total cholesterol levels may become
elevated for some who go on the ketogenic diet, but this should not totally freak you out!
Think of it in this manner: if your body has been damaged metabolically through the years of eating processed and sugary carbs, the
increase in cholesterol is actually a sign that the body is going through a healing cycle in order to normalize metabolic function.
When the damage is largely repaired, LDL and total cholesterol levels tend to start tilting
downward.
Everyone’s body is different, and so too is the time taken for the
repair to be effected.
Some might see results in months, while others may need a year or two to get the optimal levels.
Less oxidative stress –
The ketogenic diet is responsible for increasing the antioxidants present in the body, while also directly reducing the oxidation
that is encountered by the body’s mitochondria.
With boosted antioxidant activity whilst on the keto diet, free radicals tend to have a harder time in inflicting oxidative damage on our bodies.
Less oxidation usually means that
our cells and organs function better and enjoy a longer shelf life.
This also means that there could be a chance to prolong our longevity, since oxidation,
being one of the prime reasons behind aging, sees its activity being restrained to some extent while on the ketogenic diet.
Reduce Skin Problems -
Recent studies have shown a drop in acne lesions and skin inflammation over 12 weeks.
Maintenance cholesterol levels -
Cholesterol. A keto diet has shown to improve triglyceride levelsand cholesterol levels most associated with arterial buildup.
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease, and Dementia-
"
Increased ketone availability has been demonstrated to improve cognitive function in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease. The science is so compelling
that the FDA has actually approved a medical food that increases ketone
availability as an Alzheimer’s treatment. In one study, a ketogenic diet provided
more improvement in functionality for Parkinson’s patients than pharmaceutical
intervention."
– Dr. David Perlmutter
The
human
brain
needs
fat
and
cholesterol
for
proper
functioning,
and
it
can
be
fueled
by
either
glucose
or
ketones.
After
keto-adaptation
from
consuming
a
low-carb,
high-fat
diet,
the
brain
gets
most
of
its
energy
from
ketone
bodies.
This
becomes
an
important
factor
when
we
begin
looking
at
the
diseases
of
the brain
such
as
Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s,
and
dementia.
We
know
that
being
in
a state
of
ketosis
lowers
chronic
inflammation
levels,
provides
a
fantastic
fuel source
for
the
brain,
and
significantly
reduces
the
production
of
insulin—which have
all
been
implicated
in
the
development
of
these
neurological
diseases.
Alzheimer’s
disease
(AD),
commonly
referred
to
in
research
circles
now
as “type
3
diabetes,”
is
a
progressive
dementia
leading
to
memory
loss
and
loss
of function
due
to
a
lack
of
insulin
sensitivity
in
the
brain,
and
unfortunately
there
is
no
good
treatment
for
it.
Just
as
insulin
resistance
in
the
liver
leads
to
the development
of
type
2
diabetes,
so
too
does
insulin
resistance
in
the
brain
lead
to the
development
of
Alzheimer’s
disease.
When
the
brain
cannot
receive
the
primary
fuel
source
(glucose),
signs
of
mental
decline
begin.
There
is
a
strong
theoretical
basis
for
putting
a
patient
with
Alzheimer’s
on
a low-carb,
high-fat
diet
as
a
means
for
preventing
the
further
progression
of
AD because
the
inflammation
caused
by
gluten,
carbohydrates,
and
high
blood glucose
levels
has
been
associated
with
the
development
of
this
disease.
Additionally,
ketone
bodies
are
readily
taken
in
by
the
brain
as
an
alternative
fuel
source
when
glucose
is
not
present.
In
fact,
the
idea
of
delivering
ketones
instead
of
glucose
to
the
brain
to
treat
dementia-related
diseases
has
led
to
the development
of
a
new
medical
food
called
Axona.
A
randomized,
controlled clinical
trial
showed
that
over
a
period
of
ninety
days,
increased
blood
ketone levels
led
to
a
slight
improvement
in
brain
function
in
patients
with
dementia, which,
without
treatment,
almost
invariably
leads
to
Alzheimer’s
or
Parkinson’s.
Dr.
Mary
Newport
knows
a
thing
or
two
about
Alzheimer’s
disease.
Her husband,
Steve,
was
diagnosed
with
early-onset
Alzheimer’s
at
the
age
of
fifty-one,
and
she
quickly
became
frustrated
by
the
lack
of
meaningful
therapies
to help
slow
its
progression,
much
less
reverse
the
damage
that
had
already
been done.
But
when
Dr.
Newport
started
feeding
Steve
large
amounts
of
coconut
and MCT
oil
while
cutting
out
carbohydrate-based
foods
like
bread,
rice,
and
pasta, he
started
to
“climb
out
of
the
Alzheimer’s
abyss.”
She
shares
the
details
of
Steve’s
miraculous
turnaround
in
her
book
Alzheimer’s
Disease:
What
If
There
Was
a
Cure?
Dr.
Newport’s
experience
isn’t
isolated.
She
has
heard
from
hundreds
of
caregivers
whose
Alzheimer’s,
Parkinson’s,
and
dementia
patients
have
found varying
levels
of
improvements
following
the
same
protocol
that
she
did.
Some of
these
patients
have
been
stable
for
upwards
of
four
years
because
they
found
success
in
ketosis.
Thanks
to
a
grant
from
a
private
foundation,
a
clinical
study
is already
underway
at
the
University
of
South
Florida
to
examine
the
impact
of coconut
oil–induced
ketosis
on
Alzheimer’s.
Results
from
this
study
could
help further
the
efficacy
of
the
ketogenic
diet
in
the
treatment
of
Alzheimer’s
disease.
The
mechanisms
of
Parkinson’s
disease
are
extremely
similar
to
those
of Alzheimer’s,
which
is
why
diet
is
also
theorized
to
be
an
effective
treatment
for Parkinson’s.
In
an
uncontrolled
clinical
study
published
in
the
February
22, 2005,
issue
of
the
journal
Neurology,
five
patients
who
followed
a
very
low-carb (2
percent
of
calories),
very
high-fat
(90
percent
of
calories)
diet
for
twenty-eight
days
showed
improvement
as
measured
by
the
Unified
Parkinson’s
Disease
Rating
Scale.
Their
balance
improved,
their
tremors
and
shaking
ceased,
and
their
overall
mood
was
much
happier.
The
brain
loves
ketones,
especially
when
it
has
become
impaired
by
Alzheimer’s
or
Parkinson’s.
Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Other Mental Illnesses -
Interestingly,
it
is
being
theorized
that
the
root
cause
of
many
mental
illnesses
isn’t
in
the
brain:
it’s
in
the
gut.
Poor
gut
health
can
be
brought
on
by
a
high-carb,
grain-based
diet;
an
overuse
of
antibiotics;
common
over-the-counter drugs;
and
even
the
state
of
your
mother’s
gut
health
when
you
were
born.
A low-carb,
high-fat,
ketogenic
diet
gives
you
a
fighting
chance
to
improve
your
mental
health
by
stabilizing
your
brain
chemistry
through
the
changes
made
in
the
gut.
The
possible
link
between
gluten,
a
substance
found
in
grains,
andschizophrenia
was
first
suspected
when
researchers
noticed
that
there
were
fewer hospitalizations
for
this
condition
during
World
War
II,
when
grains
were
rationed.
In
1965,
an
uncontrolled
clinical
study
showed
that
a
ketogenic
diet
could
decrease
schizophrenia
symptoms.
And
a
more
recent
case
study
(whose
researchers
included
my
coauthor,
Dr.
Eric
Westman)
published
in
the
February
26,
2009,
issue
of
the
journal
Nutrition
&
Metabolism
found
that
schizophrenic
symptoms
resolved
after
a
ketogenic
diet
was
begun
for
weight
loss.
There
are also
two
other
case
studies
showing
that
bipolar
disorder
similarly
improves
on
a
ketogenic
diet.
Narcolepsy and Other Sleep Disorders -
Narcolepsy
is
a
serious
neurological
disorder
that
leads
to
excessive
daytime
sleepiness
and
“sleep
attacks.”
Medications
may
help
with
some
of
the
sleep
issues
related
to
narcolepsy,
but
they
can
become
less
and
less
effective
over
time.
In
a
clinical
study
published
in
the
June
2004
issue
of
the
medical
journal
Neurology,
nine
patients
with
narcolepsy
were
placed
on
a
low-carb,
high-fat,
ketogenic
diet
for
a
period
of
eight
weeks.
One
patient
was
unable
to
complete
the
study,
but
the
rest
experienced
less
sleepiness
during
the
day,
had
fewer
sleep attacks,
and
saw
other
improvements
in
the
severity
of
their
narcolepsy.
The researchers
concluded
that
all
these
improvements
were
likely
due
to
lower
glucose
levels
while
the
study
participants
were
in
ketosis.
Most
people
in
ketosis
report
that
they
sleep
better
and
do
not
feel
tired
after
meals.
For
those
with
narcolepsy,
this
is
a
much-needed
respite
from
the
living
hell
of
their
condition.
Melissa,
one
of
my
blog
readers,
suffered
from narcolepsy
before
she
found
the
benefits
of
ketosis.
She
dealt
with
narcolepsy from
an
early
age
and
as
a
child
slept
virtually
all
the
time.
Melissa
employed various
distraction
techniques
to
keep
herself
awake,
but
most
of
them
didn’t
help.
It
wasn’t
until
she
reached
the
age
of
forty
that
the
doctors
even
diagnosed
Melissa
with
narcolepsy.
After
trying
all
the
best
drugs
for
treating
it,
she
heard about
the
ketogenic
diet
and
decided
to
give
up
all
whole
grains,
sugar,
and
starchy
carbohydrates
while
eating
a
lot
more
saturated
fat
in
her
diet,
with
the
goal
of
producing
more
ketone
bodies.
The
results
were
astonishing.
Melissa
described
it
this
way:
“I
was
alive
again.”
Today
she
continues
to
eat
this
way,
which
helps
her
stay
awake
when
she
needs
to
during
the
day.
Of
course,
Melissa’s
story
is
only
anecdotal,
but
it
underscores
the
need
for
more
research
into
how
a
low-carb,
high-fat,
ketogenic
diet
can
help
those
dealing
with
sleep
disorders.
Exercise Performance -
"
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has been investigating ketosis as a secret weapon for boosting soldiers’ mental andphysical performance under battlefield conditions.
Why?
Because as a soldier’s
blood glucose drops, he or she becomes confused, sometimes resulting in
friendly fire.
So they tested a highly ketogenic fuel source on rats and found that it boosted physical and mental performance—the rats became much healthier, lost body fat, had lower levels of triglycerides (fatty acids) in their blood, and
had lower blood sugar levels, with zero harmful side effects.
That same fuel is now under development for soldiers."
– Ben Greenfield
These are only some of the benefits of keto diet which you will get to enjoy when you go
keto.
I would have loved to put in more information, especially where the ketogenic diet has had positive effects on diseases like cancer, polycystic
ovary syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and neurodegenerative
ailments like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
However, the intent of this site has always been to provide delicious and savory culinary solutions for the keto dieter.
It might be a good idea to pop
over to my other book, Ketogenic Diet.
The Step by Step Guide for
Beginners: Optimal Path to Effective Weight Loss, where I go into more details on the various benefits of the keto diet.
In it, I also give an easy to follow, step by step road map which would definitely ease you into ketosis,
as well as highlighting those nitty gritty bits of useful information to look out for.
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