The ketogenic diet is a high fat, low carb, and adequate protein diet, which helps to control many health issues. Some of the most important benefits of the ketogenic diet that are weight loss, high energy levels, prevention against blood pressure, diabetes, fatty liver, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson, Epilepsy will not be discussed here. Here we will discuss the unexpected but important benefits of the keto diet.
1. Prevention and Reduction in the Severity of Migraines
Beneficial effects of the ketogenic diet in migraine is due to ketones which are formed as a result of ketosis (Metabolic state in the body due to consumption of high-fat diet). Ketones reduce the neural inflammation and activate mitochondria in the brain cells. Ketones do this by blocking high glutamate levels that are an amino acid found in patients of migraine and epilepsy. Ketones also reduce the oxidative stress that further decreases the free radicals and control the inflammatory process.
2. Reduced Medications
A person having type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, which is not very severe, can stop anti-diabetic medications and rely solely on ketogenic dieting. Keto diet can alone maintain blood glucose and insulin levels in a safe range. Complications associated with anti-diabetic drugs can also be prevented using the keto diet.
3. Candida Prevention
The ketogenic diet reduces body glucose levels because of that less glucose is excreted through urine. In this way, ketogenic diets are worthy of reducing thrush and yeast infections. Bacteria in the urine feeds on glucose and make a favorable environment for fungal and bacterial infections to take place. Lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid found in coconut oil, has documented antimicrobial properties. It can destroy Candida albicans and yeasts.
4. Better Sleep
Many people on ketogenic dieting reports of insomnia and difficulty while sleeping. When the body adapts to a new metabolic state (ketosis) in a week or two, sleep patterns become better. You may find sleep to be longer, deeper, and more relaxed. You may feel more energetic after waking up.
5. Improvement in Body Composition
Dieting can help losing weight, but what about those people who want to lose weight but at the same time want to increase muscle mass. The ketogenic diet can prove best for those to achieve the goal, as they will be taking much protein than ordinary diets. To get a more precise amount of protein intake per day, anyone can calculate according to his/her body weight and height.
References
BENOIT, F. L., MARTIN, R. L., & WATTEN, R. H. (1965). Changes in body composition during weight reduction in obesity: balance studies comparing effects of fasting and a ketogenic diet. Annals of internal medicine, 63(4), 604-612.
Westman, E. C., Mavropoulos, J., Yancy, W. S., & Volek, J. S. (2003). A review of low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets. Current atherosclerosis reports, 5(6), 476-483.
AUTHOR: Editor
