Unraveling the Keto Diet: A Comprehensive Guide for Optimal Health

on May 28, 2023| Modified on Mar 12, 2024
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Keto Diet

The keto diet, short for the ketogenic diet, is a low-carb, high-fat diet that has been lauded for its potential health benefits. Designed to put the body in a metabolic state known as ketosis, this diet shifts the body's fuel source from carbohydrates to fats.1

The Science Behind Ketosis

Ketosis is a metabolic state wherein the body utilizes fats, rather than glucose, as its primary energy source.2 This metabolic shift typically occurs when carbohydrate intake is drastically reduced, as is the case with a ketogenic diet.

Under normal dietary conditions, the body uses glucose, derived from dietary carbohydrates, as its main energy source. However, when carbohydrate intake is limited, the body must find an alternative energy source. This is where fats step in. The liver converts fatty acids into ketone bodies - beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), acetoacetate (AcAc), and acetone.3

These ketone bodies cross the blood-brain barrier, provide an energy source for the brain, and power other organs.4 The state of having elevated ketone bodies in the bloodstream is called 'ketosis.'

Exogenous Ketones: Enhancing Ketosis

Exogenous ketones are supplements that can elevate the level of ketones in your blood, mimicking a state of ketosis. This can potentially help you transition into ketosis more smoothly, reduce the symptoms of the keto flu, and provide a quick energy source during times of high physical demand.5

Benefits of the Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet has various potential benefits, contributing to its growing popularity.

Weight Loss

Perhaps the most well-known benefit, the keto diet can aid in weight loss by burning stored fat for energy rather than relying on carbohydrates.6

Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels

Studies have shown that the keto diet may help regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, benefiting people with diabetes.7

Neurological Benefits

Emerging research suggests that the keto diet may also provide neurological benefits, potentially protecting against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.8

Drawbacks and Precautions

While the keto diet offers many benefits, it's not without drawbacks.

The Keto Flu

When starting the diet, some individuals may experience the "keto flu," symptoms of which include fatigue, nausea, and headaches.9

Nutrient Deficiency

Since the keto diet restricts certain food groups, it can lead to nutrient deficiencies if not properly managed.10

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects of the ketogenic diet are still under research. It's recommended to consult a healthcare professional before starting this diet.11

Making the Keto Diet Work for You

Implementing the keto diet successfully requires thoughtful planning and careful monitoring of your nutritional intake.12

Balance Your Meals

Ensure your meals are balanced with ample amounts of high-quality fats, moderate protein, and low-carb vegetables.13

Stay Hydrated

Maintaining hydration is vital, as the keto diet can often lead to increased urination.14

Monitor Your Progress

Regularly tracking your progress can help identify what's working and what needs adjustment in your diet plan.

Navigating the Keto-Friendly Foods Landscape

This table provides a simple list of key food categories allowed in the ketogenic diet, along with examples in each category. It serves as a guide to understanding and choosing the right foods that align with the nutritional goals of the ketogenic diet. Make this your go-to reference when unsure what to eat on your keto journey.15

Food Category Examples
Protein Lean Meats, Poultry, Fish, Eggs
Fats and Oils Avocado, Butter, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil
Vegetables Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Zucchini, Asparagus
Dairy Cheese, Greek Yogurt, Heavy Cream
Nuts and Seeds Almonds, Walnuts, Chia Seeds, Flaxseeds
Beverages Water, Black Coffee, Herbal Tea

Crafting Keto Meal Plans: Omnivore and Plant-Based Options

These tables offer a 7-day sample meal plan for omnivores and plant-based eaters on a ketogenic diet. Each plan proposes diverse and flavorful meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, helping you to ensure you stay in ketosis without sacrificing taste or variety.16

Omnivore 7-Day Keto Meal Plan

Day Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Monday Scrambled Eggs with Avocado Grilled Chicken Salad Baked Salmon with Asparagus
Tuesday Keto Smoothie with Spinach and Almonds Shrimp Stir Fry with Zucchini Steak with Creamed Spinach
Wednesday Chia Pudding with Coconut Milk Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps Chicken Thighs with Roasted Broccoli
Thursday Keto Pancakes with Berries and Cream Beef Stir Fry with Cauliflower Rice Grilled Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce
Friday Avocado and Bacon Omelette Chicken Caesar Salad Pork Chops with Green Beans
Saturday Coconut Yogurt with Nuts and Seeds Sardine Salad with Olives and Feta Roasted Turkey with Brussel Sprouts
Sunday Fried Eggs with Sautéed Spinach Soup with Chicken, Broccoli, and Coconut Milk Lamb Chops with Garlic and Rosemary

Plant-Based 7-Day Keto Meal Plan

Day Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Monday Chia Pudding with Almond Milk Avocado and Tomato Salad Tofu Stir Fry with Zucchini
Tuesday Almond Yogurt with Berries and Flaxseeds Zucchini Noodles with Vegan Pesto Baked Portobello Mushrooms with Spinach
Wednesday Flaxseed Pancakes with Almond Butter Cauliflower Rice with Grilled Tofu Vegan Coconut Curry with Broccoli
Thursday Smoothie with Spinach, Almond Milk, and Chia Seeds Tempeh Lettuce Wraps with Avocado Grilled Eggplant with Vegan Cheese
Friday Avocado and Tomato on Flaxseed Bread Roasted Vegetable Salad with Olive Oil Dressing Stuffed Bell Peppers with Cauliflower Rice
Saturday Keto Porridge with Hemp Seeds and Berries Spiralized Cucumber with Vegan Mayo Dressing Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Vegan Cheese Sauce
Sunday Tofu Scramble with Spinach Vegetable Soup with Coconut Milk Grilled Asparagus with Almond Slivers
 

In conclusion, the ketogenic diet presents a promising dietary approach for those seeking health improvements.

References

  1. Paoli, A. (2014). Ketogenic diet for obesity: friend or foe?. International journal of environmental research and public health, 11(2), 2092-2107. 
  2. Paoli, A., Rubini, A., Volek, J. S., & Grimaldi, K. A. (2013). Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets. European journal of clinical nutrition, 67(8), 789. 
  3. Yancy, W. S., Foy, M., Chalecki, A. M., Vernon, M. C., & Westman, E. C. (2005). A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes. Nutrition & metabolism, 2(1), 1-34. 
  4. Stafstrom, C. E., & Rho, J. M. (2012). The ketogenic diet as a treatment paradigm for diverse neurological disorders. Frontiers in pharmacology, 3, 59. 
  5. Cox, P.J., Clarke, K. (2014). Acute nutritional ketosis: implications for exercise performance and metabolism. Extreme Physiology & Medicine 3, 17. 
  6. Bueno, N. B., de Melo, I. S., de Oliveira, S. L., & da Rocha Ataide, T. (2013). Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(7), 1178-1187. 
  7. Saslow, L. R., Mason, A. E., Kim, S., Goldman, V., Ploutz-Snyder, R., Bayandorian, H., ... & Moskowitz, J. T. (2017). An online intervention comparing a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle recommendations versus a plate method diet in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of medical Internet research, 19(2), e36. 
  8. Stafstrom, C. E., & Rho, J. M. (2012). The ketogenic diet as a treatment paradigm for diverse neurological disorders. Frontiers in pharmacology, 3, 59. 
  9. Hartman, A. L., & Vining, E. P. (2007). Clinical aspects of the ketogenic diet. Epilepsia, 48(1), 31-42. 
  10. Merra, G., Miranda, R., Barrucco, S., Gualtieri, P., Mazza, M., Moriconi, E., ... & De Lorenzo, A. (2017). Very-low-calorie ketogenic diet with aminoacid supplement versus very low restricted-calorie diet for preserving muscle mass during weight loss: a pilot double-blind study. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 21(13), 3291-3304. 
  11. Rosenbaum, M., Hall, K. D., Guo, J., Ravussin, E., Mayer, L. S., Reitman, M. L., ... & Leibel, R. L. (2019). Glucose and Lipid Homeostasis and Inflammation in Humans Following an Isocaloric Ketogenic Diet. Obesity, 27(6), 971-981. 
  12. Bueno, N. B., de Melo, I. S., de Oliveira, S. L., & da Rocha Ataide, T. (2013). Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(7), 1178-1187. 
  13. Kosinski, C., & Jornayvaz, F. R. (2017). Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies. Nutrients, 9(5), 517. 
  14. Burke, L. M., Ross, M. L., Garvican‐Lewis, L. A., Welvaert, M., Heikura, I. A., Forbes, S. G., ... & Hawley, J. A. (2017). Low carbohydrate, high fat diet impairs exercise economy and negates the performance benefit from intensified training in elite race walkers. The Journal of physiology, 595(9), 2785-2807. 
  15. Dashti, H. M., Mathew, T. C., Hussein, T., Asfar, S. K., Behbahani, A., Khoursheed, M. A., ... & Al-Zaid, N. S. (2004). Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet in obese patients. Experimental and clinical cardiology, 9(3), 200. 
  16. Roehl, K., & Sewak, S. L. (2017). Practice Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Classic and Modified Ketogenic Diets for Treatment of Epilepsy. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 117(8), 1279-1292. 
  17. Martin, K., Jackson, C. F., Levy, R. G., & Cooper, P. N. (2016). Ketogenic diet and other dietary treatments for epilepsy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2) 
 

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Asthma

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Ralph (Australia) on 04/30/2022
★★★★★

For the last 12 months, I have found that when I am on a keto diet I am able to completely control my asthma and even eat some broccoli, cabbage etc, however, if I slip up and fall out of keto my asthma will come straight back. The keto diet controls some of the major inflammatory mechanisms affecting the lungs. Finding this out has been a major relief for me and the keto diet can be very satisfying once you get around the learning curve a bit. I hope you or somebody else finds this to be helpful. Cheers Ralph


Health Benefits

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by RB (Somewhere in Europe) on 03/12/2024 84 posts
★★★★★

Using the search term *ketogenic diet extends lifespan* at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, I found 17 scientific articles with the conclusion that the ketogenic diet extends your life.

In contrast, using the search query *ketogenic diet shortens lifespan* at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov I found only 3 scientific articles with the conclusion that the ketogenic diet shortens your life.


Migraines

1 User Review
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Posted by Denise E (Crescent City, CA) on 03/08/2023
★★★★★

I'm a little nervous to write this review but I am going to as this seems to be a lasting effect I am having on daily migraine pain. Please understand I had full-blown migraines all my life, I'm 70 now. I had first the aura for about 30 minutes, then my left arm would go numb for just about 5 minutes only, and then excruciating pain in one temple or the other. I actually was taken to emergency a few times over the years. I finally found out about Immitrex which stopped the actual pain about 7 years ago. Sometimes very mild migraine, sometimes not.

In the last few years, maybe only 1 bad migraine a year but what was a game changer to start with was a ketogenic diet, basically very low carbs, no sugar at all, just carbs I get in things like brocolli, spinach, yogurt, nuts. All I can eat to on Keto.

Then I began a supplement regime just 7 days ago recommended by Art in California but I never mentioned the nagging migraine pain every day of my life in the last few years. It's because I could pop a couple of tylenol, aspirin, or ibuprofen to end them within 30 minutes. I was just so focused on issues I that were way more nagging and no fix so far.

At this point, because I am still on the same foods that seemed to keep me with mild migraine, but started the supplements for other issues I'll list below, I think I've found I do not need aspirin as there are no more pains in my temple, usually left one. I'm thinking something I've added in is blocking the pain. I just don't know and want to stick with the 5 supps so I can let Art know if they are working for my other issues. Of course letting him know if my lack of head-pain keeps on.

Just hoping we can figure out what I'm taking that might be helping, I'm also knocking on wood here because if anyone here has experienced what they've called classic migraine and even hemoplegic (I also get aphasia with the bad ones) they will know the pain. I also usually had bad nausea during the pain part of a full-blow migraine.

Here are the supps I'm taking according to dose on the bottles:

Magnesium citrate 1000mg in 2 doses https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/magnesium.html

ALA 600mg in 2 doses https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/ala.html

Lutein 40mg 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/mobile/cures/eyes-vision/lutein/)

Vitamin D-3 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/art-solbrig-protocol-for-memory-loss.html

Citicoline 250 1 a day https://www.earthclinic.com/cures/art-solbrig-protocol-for-memory-loss.html#ar_192059

I want to do more of Art's Protocol on memory loss but I am starting out slowly, for one thing, I can't afford everything at once, and also, I need to watch closely for side-effects. Seems if there are any, I seems to get them. I have my MD appointment on Friday 3/9/2023. My doc will probably order more labs since he'll be told my new supplements etc. I get regular labs for cholesterol and HbA1c for my type 2 diabetes, no meds, just food and supps.

Sorry this is so long, and I just put 3 stars because I am new at a review, only 7 days but sort of profound how I'm no longer having to take aspirin every day which is dangerous for many reasons. Denise

PS I also should add I've been doing a tsp of turmeric a day, heaping tsp collagen powder, tsp of nutritional yeast, tsp of flaxseed, tsp of chia seed, which I still had the headache and I didn't do any of those except turmeric for inflammation.

If you'd like a good site to hear about Keto, here's a link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8153354/


Weight Loss

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Gardengirl (Gallatin, Tn) on 08/10/2012
★★★★★

I have been taking raspberry ketones and I have lost 2 dress sizes in about 1 month. I take 1 (100mg.) pill after breakfast and 1 in late afternoon. That's it!!! No side effects. I heard about raspberry ketones on DR OZ show last month. Hope everyone that needs to lose weight tries them.