The keto diet became popular when Robert Atkins came out with his low-carb, high-protein, and high-fat diet. It became a trend because people were losing weight, and now the keto diet is one of the most used eating patterns for rapid weight loss.
The keto diet, however, has been around for a long time and looks a little different than the Atkins diet. Dr. Russel Wilder of the Mayo Clinic discovered it in 1921. Dr. Wilder, an epileptic, was told by his neurologist that what he ate, must be helping him not have seizures. Dr. Wilder designed the original Ketogenic Therapy, and in 1924 the keto diet was born.
And there you have it. The keto diet was originally used to help with medical conditions, not weight loss. Studies have shown that the body in mild ketosis has therapeutic effects that may help with several different chronic conditions.
These include:
There are several variations of therapeutic keto; each one works in a slightly different way to help the body heal itself. Let’s explore a few ways that the Keto diet helps with certain conditions.
People with Metabolic Syndrome or pre-diabetes are at an increased risk for diabetes and heart disease. Metabolic Syndrome is diagnosed by:
Following a ketogenic diet has been shown to lower overall cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and even triglycerides. In addition, it helps with fat loss, improving all the indicated health markers for Metabolic Syndrome.
For people who already have diabetes, a therapeutic ketogenic diet can help greatly reduce blood sugar levels. In a 16-week study, 17 out of 21 participants with type 1 diabetes who were on a keto diet were able to stop taking or reduce their diabetes medication. Participants lost an average of 19 pounds and had lower blood pressure and triglycerides. Other studies also indicate that A1c levels also decreased.
For people with type 2 diabetes, the ketogenic diet also helps lower blood glucose levels due to carb management. Managing carbs is probably one of the most difficult hurdles for diabetics. Some people experience lower blood sugar and combat insulin resistance by switching focus to fat intake.
Studies have shown that the ketogenic diet is much more effective for weight loss than a low-calorie diet. In addition to weight loss, those who follow a ketogenic diet also experience more health benefits, such as lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar.
A low-carb diet helps with weight loss because people on keto diets tend to be less hungry and eat fewer calories because ketosis acts as an appetite suppressant. On keto, the body burns fat instead of carbohydrates for energy, thus causing weight loss.
Losing weight helps reduce the risk of heart disease, vascular disease, high blood pressure, back problems, diabetes, and stroke.
A therapeutic ketogenic diet has been proven to help with a variety of metabolic conditions. By eliminating the foods that cause reactions in the body and replacing them with good fats that help satisfy hunger, the keto diet can offer many benefits. Each person will have individual needs when it comes to doing a keto diet to get healthier. Only a certified nutrition practitioner can help you find the right combination of food for your health condition. Although ketogenic diets are not a cure for any condition, they show great promise in helping improve chronic conditions and reduce the health risk of other conditions.
