The ketogenic diets They may be all the rage right now, but a new study warns they may be doing long-term damage to your health. The researchers say that what makes these high-fat diets different from other weight-loss strategies also increases your risk of developing a multitude of different diseases.
Among them are diseases cardiacthe cancerthe diabetes and even disease Alzheimer’s.
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«The typical ketogenic diet is a disease-promoting disaster,» says the review’s lead author, Lee CrosbyRD, manager of the nutrition education program at the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, in a press release . «Consume red meat, processed meats, Saturated fats And restricting carbohydrate-rich vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains is a recipe for poor health.»
Crosby and a team from the Grossman College of Medicine of the NYUthe New York City Hospital and Health in bellevuethe University of Pennsylvaniathe Loma Linda University and the George Washington University School of Medicine conducted what scientists call the most comprehensive review of the ketogenic diet to date. Their findings appear in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.
Because the ketogenic diet has such a high fat requirement, followers must eat fat at every meal.
What makes the ketogenic diet so different?
A diet «ketogenic» generally refers to any weight loss plan that is very low in carbohydrates, increases protein intake, and is high in fat. You might ask, why would anyone think this is a healthy diet? Well, there is actually a scientific reason for it.
The ketogenic diets are popular because this food fuel mixture attempts to trigger the ketosis in the body. This process activates the production of ketones, which are an alternative energy source for the body. What makes ketones so attractive is the fact that neurons and other cells can metabolize this energy better than fatty acids. However, the new review finds that foods used by diets ketogenic to achieve this can damage the body in the long term.
Among their findings, the study authors say it appears that diet ketogenic is especially dangerous for the pregnant women and those who wait have children. The study finds that low-carb diets are linked to an increased risk of neural tube defects in the baby. This increased risk remains even if the mother takes folic acid During pregnancy.
The ketogenic diets High in protein can also speed up the rate of kidney failure in patients with kidney disease. The researchers add that the diet also increases levels of «bad cholesterol«for many dieters. Some healthy unsaturated fats are allowed on the ketogenic diet, such as nuts (almonds, walnuts), seeds, avocados, tofu, and olive oil. But saturated fats from oils (palm, coconut), lard, butter and cocoa butter are recommended in large quantities.
Ketogenic cure-all may have the opposite effect
The team notes that ketogenic diets they are often considered a potential cure for heart disease and even cancer. However, although some studies find that ketogenic diets may starve cancer cells, the new report finds that restricting carbohydrates actually tilts a person’s diet toward more cancer-causing foods.
«In addition to significant risks for kidney disease patients and pregnant women, ketogenic diets are also risky for other people, as these diets can increase LDL cholesterol levels and may increase the overall risk of chronic disease,» he explains. Crosby. «Although the ketogenic diet can reduce body weight in the short term, this approach is no more effective than other weight loss diets.»
Interestingly, the study authors found that a ketogenic diet may reduce the frequency of seizures in some patients with epilepsy drug resistant. Protein is part of the ketogenic diet, but it typically doesn’t discriminate between lean protein foods and protein sources high in saturated fat, such as beef, pork, and bacon.
What is ketosis?
The ketosis it is a metabolic state in which your body uses fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.
It occurs when you significantly reduce your carbohydrate intake, which limits your supply of glucose (sugar) from your body, which is the main source of energy for cells.
Following a ketogenic diet is the most effective way to get into ketosis. Generally, this involves limiting carbohydrate intake to around 20 to 50 grams per day and loading up on fats, such as meat, fish, eggs, walnuts Y healthy oils. What about fruits and vegetables? All fruits are high in carbohydrates, but you can have certain fruits (usually berries) in small portions.
The five key findings of the Frontiers in Nutrition review document are:
- ketogenic diets can be especially unsafe for pregnant women or that they may become pregnant; low-carbohydrate diets are linked to an increased risk of neural tube defects in the baby, even when women take folic acid.
- High-protein ketogenic diets could accelerate kidney failure in people with kidney disease.
- Ketogenic diets raise levels of «bad cholesterol» in many patients.
- Ketogenic diets are presented as a panacea, pBut they are not likely to be safe in the long term.
- Restricting carbohydrates tilts the diet toward cancer-causing foods. In fact, typical ketogenic foods have been linked to an increased risk of disease cardiac , cancer , diabetes Y Alzheimer’swhich are often the very diseases that are promoted to help.
The ketogenic diets have been promoted for weight loss and, less commonly, for other health reasons: seizure disorders, obesity, and weight control, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, kidney health, and before pregnancy. and pregnancy, all of which were considered in this review. He also looked at possible long-term health effects. A ketogenic diet has numerous risks. Top of the list: it is high in saturated fat
«In addition to significant risks for kidney disease patients and pregnant women, ketogenic diets are also risky for others, as these diets can increase LDL cholesterol levels and may increase the overall risk of chronic disease,» Crosby explains. . «While the ketogenic diet can reduce body weight in the short term, this approach no more effective than other weight loss diets«.
The researchers found that the only well-supported use of this dietary approach is reduce the frequency of seizures in some people with drug-resistant epilepsy.
IMPORTANT: Whenever you make diets or changes in your diet you have to do it according to your doctor’s instructions. Never alter your lifestyle without taking into account the risks it can bring to your health. Always consult a specialist.