This is definitely worth a read! Published in November and presented by a reputable source.

[Portlandprincess]

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

[Subtle_badger]

Thanks.

I googled inflammasomes and cytocine storm (the metabolic event that is putting people in ICU) and it seems inflammasomes can trigger a storm. So that suggests that a keto diet may literally save your life if you catch coronavirus.

Another reason to say no to that bagel.

[SofaJockey]

I'm not sure the finding:

'If you eat a healthy diet you will cope better with illness than if you eat an unhealthy diet'

is that surprising...

[Subtle_badger in reply to SofaJockey]

I know you are being cute, so sorry for taking you seriously but there has been very little study done on the ketogenic diet. The more we understand, the more we know how to eat.

For example, at what ketone level do these benefits occur etc.

Note, this study was done with mouse models. So it does not necessarily apply to humans, so more study is needed. To give an exaggerated comparison, if they were testing keto diets on laboratory cows, I think we would get a different conclusion.

[SofaJockey in reply to Subtle_badger]

You spotted my raised eyebrow.

I have been impressed by the effects of the LCHF diet (the evidence is before me, er, no longer before me).

But I'm more wary of going 'full keto', perhaps because it appears to me to be a more aggressive diet.

It's great to see more research on all aspects of LCHF as I think outdated methods of weight-loss still dominate. As for impact on viruses, I guess for me the jury is still out beyond the general, 'healthy is good'. 😄

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to SofaJockey]

Dieticians, eh. Masters of the bleedin' obvious

This was the bit that made me smile:

“This was a totally unexpected finding”

Because keto ought to be, like, really bad for you.

[babss]

Thanks for sharing. As well as the question about whether the results would be the same in humans, I wonder whether it is the ketosis that has the beneficial effect or the lack of (pro inflammatory) carbs in the diet. Guess I’d have to read the full article.

I too am reluctant to go keto-low carb for a number of reasons (my slightly delicate digestive system for one) but hope the approach I’m taking is enough to maximise my chances if I do get this awful virus. So much this week about how much more vulnerable you are if obese or even overweight ☹️

[Portlandprincess in reply to babss]

I'm sticking to around 25 gms of carbs at the moment and tracking them on a free app. The reason I'm doing it is simple..like the foods and need to lower BMI and waist circumference.simple as. So if there are other benefits that's great!

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador]

Interesting stuff!

Reading between the lines, I'm inclined to think that they're confusing "low carb" with "ketogenic". If the issue is an inappropriate immune response caused by excessive carbs (which is a fairly-well-established fact emerging from studies on CVD) then moderate-to-low carb diets should be just as effective.

As Subtle_badger said, the proposed protective mechanism suggests that people eating LCHF should avoid the horrible experience of breathlessness if they catch COVID-19.

I wonder if some of this sort of thing explains why children seem barely affected by COVID-19? Simply because the effects of a low-fat high-carbohydrate diet take many years to cause the chronic diseases that they do, maybe young kids don't have such wide-ranging damage to their metabolisms and immune systems.

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I asked Dr David Unwin onTwitter if children were less susceptible to covid19 because they had not had time to do the damage by eating carbs and get obese. He said no. It’s their immune systems are generally better, & it’s the other end of the story that age is the primary risk factor (followed by metabolic disease).

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

I have read that increasingly British doctors are finding that people with crap lungs aren’t affected worse, but it’s about what’s going on in your blood (as well as how much fat your ribs have to move out of the way to open your lungs. I am reassured by this as I have rubbish lungs (passive smoking as a foetus & child).

[PandQs in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Hi Toad, bearing in mind I have no medical expertise whatsoever, I was quite happy thinking that my weight loss from LCHF would be of benefit if I was unfortunate enough to contract the virus. However a finding in this study worries me "ketogenic diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produce mucus in the cell linings of the lung" as I've read that it is when this reponse goes into overdrive that people with Covid get into real difficulty, drowning in the mucus. The report was written last November re ordinary flu but I'm wondering if it may be a problem for this virus. I sincerely hope not but we will have to wait for the results of all the research before knowing for sure either way.