Keto 101: The Health Benefits of Following a Keto Diet
The keto diet and your health. What are the common keto health benefits?
Over the last few years, the ketogenic diet – or “keto” – has become one of the most popular diets ever, thanks to its quick results, easy to implement guidelines, and numerous health benefits. But is the keto diet healthy?
The keto diet is composed mainly of healthy fats, a sufficient amount of protein, and a very low amount of carbohydrates. By flipping the switch on to a low carb diet, your body begins to produce ketones, energy made from fatty acids by your liver. Those ketones are then used to fuel your metabolism and put you into a state of ketosis, meaning your body becomes an efficient fat burning machine. Not only will you lose weight, but you’ll reap other health benefits as well. Read on to find out more about the most common keto health benefits.
Is keto healthy? Keto and weight loss
One of the main reasons many people go keto is for weight loss. Not only does it put your body into ketosis, but studies suggest that the ketogenic diet can lower levels of hunger-stimulating hormones. What’s more, a high fat, low carb diet tends to be highly satiating, meaning you’ll feel fuller longer and eat less overall.
Another reason why keto is good for you is that it is effective at reducing harmful visceral fat that accumulates around your midsection. This type of fat is linked to inflammation and insulin resistance, so keeping levels low is important for your overall health.
What about my blood pressure? Is the keto diet safe for those with high cholesterol?
Losing weight is one of a physician’s most common prescriptions for those with high blood pressure. A low carb diet like keto can help you shed pounds effectively, thereby lowering blood pressure. The effect? You’ll reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases and improve your overall heart health.
And, although the emphasis on fat intake may seem counter-intuitive, a study has shown beneficial effects of the keto diet on people with high levels of total cholesterol. By eating plenty of healthy fats on the keto diet, participants in a 24-week keto trial showed a decrease in total cholesterol overall. In fact, the level of HDL cholesterol (sometimes known as the “good kind” of cholesterol) increased significantly.
Of course, if you are in any way concerned about your cholesterol levels or are taking medication for high blood pressure, we recommend you consult your physician before starting on the keto diet, or indeed any other.
Lower blood sugar levels with the keto diet
Your brain on keto: Cognitive improvements
And the list of keto health benefits doesn’t stop there; recent studies have shown that the keto diet can improve cognitive function in both adults and children. Although further research is needed, the suggestion is that a keto diet can be beneficial in the treatment of a range of neurological and nervous system conditions including epilepsy, brain trauma and Parkinson’s disease.
On top of that, the keto diet may even help to slow the progression and ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s has no cure, and the keto diet does not claim to be one, but it is thought that ketones in the body may protect aging brain cells from this debilitating disease.
