The Ketogenic Diet is not only a fat-burning machine of a lifestyle; it also has many scientific health benefits – the stuff we don’t notice when we look into the mirror.
A low-carb diet not only causes more weight loss but it also actually leads to major improvements in most risk factors for heart disease – including cholesterol. Besides this, there are also a number of other bodily positives which take place when abiding to a Ketogenic Diet – below are 5 listed which I think, as the Casual Keto Chef, are particularly important J
1. Triglycerides Tend to Drop Drastically
Triglycerides are fat molecules that circulate in your bloodstream. It is well known that high-fasting triglycerides –levels in the blood after an overnight fast – are a strong heart disease risk factor.
One of the main drivers of elevated triglycerides in inactive and sedentary people is carb consumption – especially the simple sugar Fructose. However when people start Keto and cut out the carbs, they tend to experience a very dramatic reduction in blood triglycerides. This therefore overall reduces your risk of Heart Disease – amazing J
2. Increased Levels of ‘Good’ HDL Cholesterol & Improved ‘Bad’ LDL Cholesterol Levels
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known by dieticians and scientists around the World as the ‘Good’ cholesterol. The higher your levels of HDL relative to ‘bad’ LDL, the lower your risk of heart disease. One of the best ways to increase ‘good’ HDL levels is to eat fat – and low-carb diets such as the Ketogenic diet include a lot of fat.
Therefore it is unsurprising that HDL levels increase dramatically on health, low-carb diets, while they tend to increase moderately, or even decline, on low-fat diets.
In regards to the improvement of ‘bad’ LDL levels, when you eat a low-carb diet the size of your LDL particles increases, which, according to scientists, reduces their harmful effects. Cutting carbs may also reduce the number of total LDL particles in your bloodstream.
3. Reduced Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels
Low-carb and Ketogenic diets can also be rather helpful when it comes to people whom have Diabetes and Insulin Resistance, which does affect millions of people worldwide.
Recent studies conducted have proven that cutting out the carbohydrates lowers both blood sugar and insulin levels drastically. Some people with diabetes, who begin a low-carb diet, may need to reduce their insulin dosage by 50% almost immediately.
In one study in people with Type 2 diabetes, 95% had reduced or eliminated their glucose-lowering medication within six months. However, if you do take blood sugar medication, talk to your doctor before making changes to your carb intake, as your dosage may need to be adjusted to prevent hypoglycaemia.
In summary, studies have proven that the best way to lower blood sugar and insulin levels is to reduce your consumption of carbohydrates which, may treat and possibly even reverse type 2 diabetes.
4. May Lower Blood Pressure
Elevated Blood Pressure, also known as hypertension, is a significant risk factor for many diseases, including strokes, kidney failure and heart disease.
Low-carb diets are an effective way to lower blood pressure, which should reduce your risk of these three diseases and essentially help you live longer! J
5. A Potential Cure for Several Brain Disorders
To survive, your brain needs glucose, as some parts of it can only burn this type of sugar. That’s why your liver produces glucose from protein once you are adapted to the Keto diet and you’re not eating any carbs.
A large part of your brain can also burn Ketones, (Covered with Ketosis here: https://casualketoclub.home.blog/2019/07/29/5-tell-tale-signs-youre-in-ketosis/), which are formed during starvation or when your carb intake is very low. This is the mechanism behind the Ketogenic diet, which has been used for decades to treat epilepsy in children who don’t respond to drug treatment.
In many cases, this diet can cure children of epilepsy. In one study, over half of the children on a Ketogenic diet experience a greater than 50% reduction in their number seizures, while 16% became seizure-free.
Very low-carb and Ketogenic diets are now being studied for other brain conditions as well, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Conclusion
Not many things are as well established in nutrition science as the immense health benefits of low-carb and ketogenic diets.
Not only can these diets improve your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, but they also reduce your appetite, boost weight loss and lower your triglycerides.
If you’re curious to boost your health and lose weight the Ketogenic diet could be worth considering. Read more about it here – https://casualketoclub.home.blog/category/start-here/
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The Casual Keto Chef 