The Benefits Of A Ketogenic Diet

You have probably heard about ketogenic diets.  Although the Keto diet has attracted many controversies, we cannot dispute the numerous advantages of this diet.

Ketogenic dieting has been called a fad by mainstream media.  Every few years you will see a flurry of low carb dieting products and lots of news coverage over how healthy low carb dieting can be.   Then just as quickly, the diet will fall out of favor only to resurface again a few years later.

Why? The popular belief was that ketogenic diets heightened cholesterol levels.  And the high-fat content can bring about various heart complications.

However, over the years, researchers have conducted over 20 studies on low-carb diets. Through empirical studies, researchers have derived several potential health benefits of turning to a ketogenic diet.

11 Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet

1. Suppressing your appetite
   When dieting, one of the side effects is hunger.  Hunger can make you feel miserable that you could end up giving up on your diets.  However, with a ketogenic diet, reducing your appetite will come automatically.Research shows that when people take low carbs, more protein and fat, their intake of calories is less. When you turn to a keto diet, your appetite will be suppressed, thereby causing to eat fewer calories with less effort.
2. Low carb diet promotes weight loss
   This is one is like a shortcut to cutting weight, and it is incredibly efficient.  Research analysts have already proven that people who take low-carb diets, lose more weight, and within a short time.  If you wish to lose more weight and faster, go for ketogenic diets.
3. Enhances metabolism of fats which provide energy
   Another benefit of keto diets is their ability to make the body use fats as the main energy reserves.  When the body is on a high-carbohydrate diet, it tends to get lazy.  The body expects an alternative energy source to keep fueling it when on high carbohydrates. However, when the body is the state of ketosis, it has to mobilize the stored fats to produce energy.
4. Increases loss of fat around the abdominal cavity
   Different parts of our body have a different kind of fat.  Some fats cause illness when they build up in some organs of the body.Namely, there is subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.  Subcutaneous fat is under the skin, and visceral fat is located in the abdominal cavity.When visceral fat lodges itself around the abdominal cavity, it can lead to health complications. In essence, this fat can cause insulin resistance, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction.Ketogenic diets are quite useful when it comes to getting rid of this dangerous abdominal fat.
5. Reduction of triglycerides
   Triglycerides are lipid molecules found in the blood stream. Triglycerides increase the risk of getting a heart attack. Consumption of carbohydrates leads to increase of triglycerides.  Nevertheless, a ketogenic diet causes the triglycerides in the blood to reduce dramatically.
6. Enhances production of HDL
   HDL refers to High-Density Lipoprotein.  It is considered as the “good” cholesterol. The “bad” cholesterol would be Low-Density Lipoprotein, LDL.  LDL transfers cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. In contrast, HDL transports cholesterol from the body to the liver. Here, the cholesterol is excreted or reused.  The risk of suffering from heart illness is low when the levels of HDL are high.  A Ketogenic diet can help maintain a high level of HDL.
7.  Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
   If you are a Type 2 Diabetes patient, studies have shown that some patients have been able to get off of insulin by following a ketogenic diet. Type 2 diabetes patients have a high insulin resistance. These means their bodies do not release enough insulin to bring down the blood sugar levels.  However, a low-carb diet helps reduce the level of insulin and blood sugar altogether.
8. Helps with lowering of blood pressure
   Hypertension is a disorder where the blood pressure remains abnormally high.  This condition can lead to other health complications, including stroke, kidney failure, heart disease, among others. Research indicates that a ketogenic diet is effective at lowering the blood pressure significantly.
9.  Treating metabolic syndrome
   When it comes to treatment of metabolic syndrome, a keto diet is one of the most effective. Metabolic syndrome is known to lead to heart ailments and diabetes too.  A ketogenic diet helps reverse the symptoms of this medical problem.
10. Treatment of the Alzheimer’s disease
    If you have been in ketosis for a while.  You have probably noticed the increased energy and improved mood being in ketosis brings.  There is enough evidence to suggest that a ketogenic diet can help provide your brain with the nutrients its needs to prevent the development of dementia, including Alzheimer disease (Alzheimer is a medical disorder that involves degeneration of the central nervous system.)
11. Fighting cancer
    Studies have shown that cancer cells use sugar as fuel.  Cancer cells have 10x more insulin receptors than normal cells.  Meaning the more carbs and sugar in your diet, the better fed your cancer cells will be!  But cancer cells CAN NOT use fatty acids for energy.  Meaning while on a ketogenic diet you are starving cancer cells!   I’m not saying that ketogenic dieting is the cure for cancer, but studies have shown that cancer patients with high sugar levels have the lowest survival rate.