Celebrities and athletes often endorse the ketogenic diet, which consists of eating few carbohydrates while increasing fats intake. By depriving cells of glucose energy sources such as fats and proteins, ketones (natural fuel for your body) are produced from these sources which your body can use as fuel.
Wilson Tang of Atlantic Health System’s heart failure clinic warns that this diet could increase LDL cholesterol, which is harmful for your heart health, as well as interact negatively with certain medications used by cardiac patients such as warfarin or SGLT-2 inhibitors.
It’s a low-carb diet
The Keto diet involves restricting your carbohydrate consumption. Instead, the emphasis is placed on eating healthier fats such as olive, canola, nut and seed oils as well as proteins from fish and grass-fed meats for protein intake, plus plenty of non-starchy vegetables and fruits – although adhering to such an restrictive regimen may prove challenging for some people.
The keto diet works by restricting glucose from entering your bloodstream. While glucose is your body’s primary energy source, restricting carbohydrates can force your liver and brain to switch over to using fat for energy instead. This process is known as ketosis and it can lead to weight loss as well as improved health benefits. While not recommended for people suffering from heart disease, diabetes or other chronic illnesses; the keto diet can serve as an additional supplement.
The Keto diet contains plenty of fat, but not all types are created equal. Some fats such as saturated fats found in meat and dairy products increase your risk for cardiovascular disease while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats from avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil and other sources are considered healthier options. Some experts advise against dairy consumption; if necessary opt for lower-fat options like low-fat yogurt.
A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, high-protein eating plan originally devised to treat children with epilepsy during the 1920s. Now used as a weight loss diet and recommended by some physicians, it should always be discussed first with your physician to make sure it’s safe.
Low-carb diets can have positive impacts on your heart, but it’s essential that you find a balance. Stick with it long-term so as to prevent frequent switching between diets – something yo-yo dieting does – and high cholesterol levels; furthermore a keto diet could cause LDL levels (the so-called bad cholesterol), to spike suddenly causing atherosclerosis which in turn contributes to heart attacks and stroke. For this reason it would be wise if anyone with a family history of heart disease talks to their doctor before embarking upon such a keto diet journey.
It’s a high-fat diet
The keto diet is a high-fat, restrictive carb diet that may reduce blood sugar and triglyceride levels linked to heart disease, but may increase your intake of saturated fat – another known risk factor. While its potential benefits include lower blood sugar and triglyceride levels – its downside may increase “bad” cholesterol in your blood, given how increasing saturated fat intake could exacerbate heart conditions further.
The Keto diet features foods rich in fats such as meat, eggs, cheese and berries while restricting carb-rich foods like beans potatoes and bread. Fruits vegetables and nuts may still be eaten moderately on this plan. A ketogenic approach has been found to significantly decrease seizures for children living with epilepsy while improving mental health and concentration as well as treating other neurological and metabolic conditions.
Though ketogenic diets may be popular, they do come with risks. Although keto may help with weight loss, not everyone finds it healthy; furthermore, certain medical conditions (e.g. high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes) could make the keto diet unsuitable – specifically pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Concerns have been expressed over the ketogenic diet due to its high amounts of saturated fats and limited fiber intake, which may contribute to digestive issues or gut imbalances. Furthermore, this diet could reduce bacteria levels in your gut which could result in constipation or digestive issues.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan proven effective at treating some types of epilepsy. It does so by decreasing brain excitability and altering how our bodies use glucose for energy – two effects it’s been used to manage for more than 100 years to manage seizures in children. While it’s generally safe and suitable for most, before trying it it should always be discussed with your physician first if you suffer from chronic high blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes issues.
It’s a low-sodium diet
The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate and moderate protein diet designed to lower cardiovascular risk factors. These factors include elevated cholesterol, high blood pressure and obesity. A keto diet can also improve diabetes symptoms while decreasing inflammation – both contributing factors of heart disease. It’s best to consult your physician prior to adopting this plan to make sure it won’t conflict with any existing medical concerns or illnesses that exist in your body.
The average American diet includes 45-65% calories from carbohydrates, 20-25% from fats and 10-15% from proteins. The keto diet reduces carbs while increasing fats substantially; consequently many may experience nutritional deficiencies quickly due to fruits and vegetables high in carbs being restricted from their diet; this could result in shortages in calcium, potassium, vitamin D or folate and cause further deficiencies.
An additional side effect of keto diets, given their high fat content, can be the accumulation of excess sodium. When entering ketosis, your kidneys release excess water along with sodium which leads to dehydration and fatigue – in more serious cases even fainting can occur! Therefore it’s crucial that people on a keto diet try not to exceed recommended sodium limits especially if prone to dehydration or diagnosed with hypertension or another medical condition such as depression.
As it happens, there are plenty of healthy ways to add flavor to your meals without increasing sodium intake. Try using herbs and spices, cooking with olive or coconut oil and creating homemade soups and stews from scratch. Other ideas for increasing flavor could include unsalted nuts and seeds, beans or homemade salad dressings. Home cooking gives you complete control over ingredients used and may help reduce sodium intake.
Studies show that keto diet can significantly reduce cardiovascular risk factors by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as decreasing elevated blood sugar linked to inflammation of artery walls. A clean keto diet was also shown to reduce yo-yo dieting which has been linked with weight fluctuations and fluctuation.
It’s a high-protein diet
The keto diet emphasizes high fat intake with reduced carbs. On average, this means eating about 75 percent of your calories from fat, 20 percent from protein and five percent from carbohydrates. Starchy vegetables, fruits, grains and most dairy foods are excluded; nuts and seeds may still be allowed though as well as certain fatty fish like tuna or salmon which provide omega-3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease; they can be added to salads, pasta dishes or baked goods or served directly grilled as main courses.
Short-term benefits of the keto diet may include decreased blood sugar, improved energy, and an improvement in cholesterol levels. However, this diet may not be appropriate for individuals taking medication or with preexisting health conditions who rely on processed food instead of fiber for sustenance; over time this could cause nutritional deficiencies to form; additionally it has also been known to cause an increase in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol which increases your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Before embarking on the keto diet, it’s essential that you consult with a healthcare provider or dietitian. This is particularly true if your family history includes heart disease or other serious medical issues, or if dieting frequently increases your risk. Furthermore, avoid engaging in any yo-yo dieting as this increases the chances of heart disease.
A keto diet includes high-quality meats, seafood and non-starchy vegetables along with healthy fats such as olive oil and nut butter for fueling ketogenesis. Furthermore, processed food and sugary beverages should be limited while healthy alternatives should be prioritized – although following such a regimen might prove challenging for some individuals; nor is it advised for those living with diabetes or other serious medical conditions.
Some individuals may experience elevated cholesterol levels when following the keto diet; this should return to normal once they stop. People with genetic conditions such as familial hypercholesterolemia should steer clear. A high-fat, low-carb diet can also trigger various symptoms in these individuals including kidney stones and hypercalciuria; therefore it’s crucial that you consult a registered dietitian to manage symptoms safely while making sure your diet remains safe for you.