How the Keto Diet Impacts Gut Health And The Microbiome

[Kia17]

Now, we started out talking about the keto diet and went down a little bit of a gut health rabbit hole. So how are they connected? It appears that the ketogenic diet has a beneficial impact on gut health and the microbiome.

The following are three studies showing the beneficial changes that occur to the microbiome while on a ketogenic diet and the implications of these changes for 3 neurological diseases.

drjockers.com/keto-diet-bad...

10 Ways To Improve The Gut Microbiome

drjockers.com/10-ways-impro...

Another study found that patients suffering with Parkinson’s disease also had significantly lower amounts of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).5 SCFAs like butyrate are mostly secreted by anaerobic bacteria like Bifidobacteria in the colon, and they have been linked in numerous studies to play a role in brain health

optibacprobiotics.co.uk/pro...

What is not understood is whether this altered microbiota is in some way responsible for the onset or worsening of disease symptoms, or whether the dysbiosis occurs as a result of the Parkinson’s disease. Is this imbalanced gut flora the ‘chicken or the egg', so to speak?

How the Keto Diet Helps Prevent Seizures: Gut Bacteria May Be Key

google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.live...

[D_Korolev]

Thanks for providing the links to these very useful sources of information. Some of it is familiar material but it is usually worth while reading things which challenge your accepted habits and modes of behaviour. I do appreciate your investigative work and I will try to do this some justice. I have recently made a rather half-hearted and feeble attempt to start on a ketogenic diet but I have not given up hope, just yet. I will try to be more organised for the next attempt and come to it better prepared. Keep up with the research. Thanks again.

[Kia17]

Thank you for your comments.

I started from intermittent fasting and lowered the carbohydrates intake gradually and now doing soft-ketogenic diet. All the best , Kia

[dangilio]

my mom improve a lot with the keto diet..we’ve follow dr mary new port low carb and coconut

[amykp]

The keto diet may or may not improve gut health (I believe the jury is still out) but there is much more research out there showing it is directly neuroprotective--and that (IMHO) is the main reason to do it for PD. Here is a lay article to read:

blogs.scientificamerican.co...

and here is a more scientific one: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I have been on a strict keto diet (along with intermittent fasts) for two years--Ive had PD for four. My symptoms haven't progressed. I don't take sinemet yet. Of course I can't KNOW whether that's what's keeping me healthy (I exercise, I drink green tea, I take turmeric...etc) but I'm not about to stop. I don't find it difficult!

I'd love to chat with others who are following/want to try the diet. I have lots of tips!

[Kia17 in reply to amykp]

Hi amykp

Please go on and share your experiences and thoughts about the Keto Diet here.

[amykp]

What did you mean by "soft ketogenic diet"? Just curious...

[Kia17 in reply to amykp]

Its not strict keto, however I take intermittent fasting everyday day, no gluten, no sugar, just some carbs for dinner, lots of good fats, bulletproof coffee, MCT oil C8, fresh colourful vegetables.

[amykp]

Oh--that's exactly what I do, minus carbs for dinner....because, why? I pretty much figure the deeper into ketosis, the better for my brain. I eat a ton of green veggies, lots of fat, small protein (either meat or eggs or cheese) and VERY rarely a small bit of berries w/heavy cream for dessert. There are a bunch of great recipes online for things like keto bread, keto pizza, keto lasagna, even keto cake...etc. I like to cook, so with all those resources I really don't miss carbs at all.

Have you tried any of those recipes? It helps you to forget you are missing anything!

[Kia17 in reply to amykp]

I don’t crave for sugar at all. We have tried many of these recipes here

dietdoctor.com/low-carb/ket...

What supplements do you take?