Keto diet may do more harm than good, increases risk of CVD, CKD, cancer, and diabetes

[JayPwP]

medicaldialogues.in/amp/die...

For most people, the possible long-term risks of the very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets may outweigh the benefits, finds a recent review in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

These diets may increase the risk of chronic disease. Red meat, processed meat, and saturated fat whose intake is typically increased in the keto diet are linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic kidney disease, whereas intake of protective foods (eg, vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains) typically decreases.

[Bolt_Upright]

Good stuff. The Keto guy I watch has switched to a Mediterranean keto diet. macro-plate.com/blog/medite...

[Despe in reply to Bolt_Upright]

It appears that the combination of Keto/Mediterranean is what I referred to in the past: Body needs all the nutrients, so a little of everything other than processed/packaged foods is the ideal diet!

[alexask]

Seems more of a hatchet job than a scientific study. I would love to do a keto diet but carbs are too tempting.

[bassofspades]

If Keto is done clean and correctly, it prevents CVD, CKD, cancer, and diabetes. I could write a huge book on this subject, but it's hard to type on my tablet here because of the Parkinson's. Meanwhile, there's plenty of information about it out there. A good place to start is Dr Jason Fung's book about intermittent fasting, The Obesity Code. He is a nephrologist and explains fasting and Keto as preventive measures for kidney disease and diabetes. Grain Brain by Dr David Perlmutter is another great one, and he covers Keto vs Alzheimer's extensively. Sugar and carbohydrate consumption causes insulin fluctuations, which sets of a series of ...well, lots of bad stuff! And cancer survives on glucose as it's fuel and starves in its absence. Chronic kidney disease CKD is caused by the effects of insulin fluctuations such as diabetes, hypertension and severe metabolic syndrome. Cardiovascular disease CVD and diabetes are reversed by ketogenic diet.

To do Keto right means to eat clean, so avoid processed foods such as luncheon meats and artificial sweeteners. Red meat is absolutely fine if you can handle all the iron. You can certainly eat plenty of low carb vegetables, eggs, fish, poultry, pork and nuts but avoid starchy grains, root vegetables, inflammatory legumes, milk and sugary fruit!

[JayPwP in reply to bassofspades]

Dr John McDougall would disagree with the last sentence.

I had written previously on Fasting induced ketosis (healthy, fat burning) and fat-feeding ketogenic diet (objective of this post)

[Despe in reply to bassofspades]

". . .inflammatory legumes, milk and sugary fruit!"

These foods are included in the Mediterranean diet. Legumes have plenty of vitamins, but most importantly L-DOPA!! Whole grass-fed milk has lots of vitamins as well. "Sugary" fruits have plenty of vitamins and minerals which people try to replace with pills.

I believe a combination of both diets is ideal.

[gregorio]

I have been on a Keto diet almost from the time I was diagnosed, I went from a Carb life to Keto and dropped 35Lbs and never looked better. Now I read this and am concerned, how do we know what to beleve.

[bassofspades in reply to gregorio]

You know what to believe because you're living proof

[alexask in reply to gregorio]

Don't be concerned at all. A big risk factor for cancer is being overweight.

[JayPwP in reply to gregorio]

If you are ketogenic via fasting and plant based diet, then no issues..

[gginto in reply to gregorio]

Has Keto diet reduced pd symptoms? if So, stick with this diet!

[Ashti in reply to gregorio]

The best nutrition site I have found is NutritionFacts.org with Michael Greger. His team actively goes through all the published peer-reviewed nutrition research studies, and critically evaluates the study designs and reported results, then summarizes and reports interesting findings with short videos (with transcripts available) or blogs, with links to all the research cited - so you can evaluate the studies yourself. He even has videos and tips on how to evaluate the quality of the research. In figuring out who to believe, the best bet is evaluating the quality of the scientific research being referred to.

[kaypeeoh]

I tried the Adkins keto diet for weight loss before a 50-mile race. I did fine for the first 25 miles but then abruptly I got muscle cramps in my legs, back and neck. I'd pitched a tent the night before the race so I'd be first on the course that morning. I was the last finisher. I had to crawl back the my tent but it was so cold the cramps competed with constant shivering. So I crawled into my truck and turned the heat as high as it would go. By morning the cramps subsided enough for the 3-hour drive home.

One of the side effects of ketosis is low sodium levels in the blood. That's what causes the cramping. IF the sodium is low enough it could stop the heart.