Blasting over Pinterest and the internet is the Ketogenic Diet, also known as the Keto Diet. This diet is primarily characterized by low consumption of carbohydrates. It seems this diet that so many are raving about is showing results, but through close examination, it can be seen that results of the Keto Diet do not tell the full story. Let’s take a look at the history of the Keto diet, why it’s so popular right now, why is ‘works,’ and advantages and disadvantages.
Because this diet is popular right now, it can be hard to find credible sources about its history. PubMed is a credible and reliable source that states the Keto Diet’s original purpose was to treat epilepsy, and it’s not that new. According to this article, the Keto Diet was implemented by physicians to treat epilepsy in the 1920s. This continued for two decades until antiepileptic drug treatment was implemented and the use of this diet drastically declined. Over the past 15 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the use and scientific interest in the Keto Diet (Wheless, 2008). History can tell us that this diet has been one of the effective treatments for childhood epilepsy.
The number of individuals with epilepsy has not grown exponentially, so why has the number of individuals choosing to use the Keto Diet? A quick search on the Keto Diet will show many promising posts and articles followed by some questioning of its safety. The Keto Diet is a high-fat, almost no-carb, moderate-protein diet that changes how your body metabolizes fat. In a nation with more overweight and obese individuals than ever before, it is clear why a diet implicating this change would gain popularity. As for research, much is in the works, but people are jumping on the Keto train regardless because of others’ testimonies of how they got lean. Weight loss is what this nation needs right now and the Keto Diet ‘promises’ that. That is the main reason it’s widely popular.
The reason why diet therapies are effective in treating epilepsy is that they alter the body’s energy. But how is it effective in weight loss? Eating a diet high in fat and low in carbs puts the body into ketosis, a metabolic state where your body burns fat instead of carbs for fuel. This often leads to avid to substantial weight loss. When you’re in ketosis, that means your liver is making ketones. In the process of switching from carbohydrate-sourced to fat-sourced energy, the body starts by taking stored glucose from the liver and temporarily breaks down muscle to release glucose. In an average human, the stored glucose will run out in three to four days. Then, blood levels of insulin decrease and the body begins to use fat as its primary fuel. At this time, the liver produces ketone bodies from fat which can be used in the absence of glucose (building blocks of carbohydrates).
The advantages of this diet are readily and easy to find; they are everywhere. What is much harder to find are the just-as-real disadvantages. One of the measurable advantages to the Keto Diet is that ketones (the fuel that gets put into the bloodstream) may result in a feeling of increased energy. Research has shown beneficial metabolic changes in the short-term use of this diet. The general concept of the body using up the fact that individuals want to rid themselves of is advantageous as this diet may result in noticeable weight loss.
But, at what cost? Nutrition professionals and doctors have warned about consumption of excess fat as it may lead to heart disease(s), storage of fat, raised cholesterol levels, stroke, and more. Keto Diet users must pay close attention to the types of fat they are consuming in order to decrease their risk for serious health problems (NHS Choices). The possibility of ketoacidosis highlights a concerning problem with the Keto Diet. Ketoacidosis occurs when the body has produced excessive ketone bodies that can make for a dangerously toxic level of acid in the blood. During ketoacidosis, the kidneys excrete ketone bodies and water in the urine that causes some fluid-related weight loss. This is most common for individuals with Type I Diabetes, but many ketoacidosis events have been reported in which that was not the case (Harvard University, 2018).
Also, the Keto Diet is cutting the body off from its main fuel source, glucose. Prolonged limitation of the body’s main source of fuel will change its metabolism. This change may be temporary or permanent; thus meaning, an individual consuming few carbohydrates for a prolonged period of time may not be able to return to eating a medium or high carbohydrate diet because the body may not long be able to digest and absorb the glucose molecules properly.
Overall, research on the Keto Diet is limited. Most of the studies so far have few participants and the studies were short-term. There needs to be more research to determine if the Keto Diet is sound, but what we do know is (as of now) how it works, the history and its origin, reasons behind the popularity, and the most prominent and measurable advantages and disadvantages. This diet has proven to show weight loss results as it changes the body’s primary source of fuel from glucose to fat. The big question, and perhaps a question we should ask about every diet, is as follows: is this a change that is beneficial to short-term and long-term health?
Sources
“Diet Review: Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss.” The Nutrition Source, Harvard
University, 7 May 2018, www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy- weight/diet-reviews/ketogenic-diet/.
NHS. “Fat: The Facts.” NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/different-
fats-nutrition/.
Wheless, J W. “History of the Ketogenic Diet.” Current Neurology and Neuroscience
Reports., U.S. National Library of Medicine, Nov. 2008,
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