The Ketogenic diet plan is a low carb diet which switches your body to produce and burn a large amount of ketones. There are many studies that show that this diet has benefits for a variety of health conditions:
Fights anxiety and depression
From the studies that were conducted on rats, it was found out that Keto diet helped to reduce anxiety. This could be because of taking healthy fats and less sugar. The study also showed that mice who were exposed to Keto diet when they were in their mother’s womb showed less vulnerability to anxiety compared to the ones that were not exposed to Keto diet.
Reduces hunger
When your blood sugar levels are in control, your cravings are also controlled. You tend to stay without food for longer duration of time. When people cut down the sugar they get from the processed carbohydrates, they start to make better food choices rather than looking for the next thing to eat.
Improves parkinson’s disease
This is a nervous system disorder which is identified by low levels of signalling molecule dopamine. It involves symptoms like tremor, stiffness, impaired posture and difficulty is observed in walking and writing. The Keto diet works as a therapy against this as it protects the nervous system and the brain.
Improves autism spectrum disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a condition where there are problems observed with communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviours. Studies conducted on young mice showed that keto diet helps to improve ASD condition. It also showed a reduction in over-stimulation of the brain cells in mice. In children it was observed that there was a 70% increase in IQ level and reduction of obesity.
Treats nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases these days. It is connected with Type-2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Keto diet showed improvement in people with this disease. There was a significant decrease in blood pressure, weight and liver enzymes. The studies showed that 93% of man showed reduction in liver fat and the rest 21% had complete recovered from this disease.
Improving brain functions
Keto diet alters the brain chemistry improves the memory and cognitive clarity and helps the people with Alzheimer’s diseases. Keto diet mimics the starvation effects on the body which helps to control seizures and reduces the rate of migraines.
Mayo Clinic in 1920s used this diet to treat the children with epilepsy. This diet also helps to boost the recovery process after a brain injury as the brain needs high levels of energy for recovery which is easily obtained from this diet.
Fighting against different cancers
Taking ketone supplements helps to reduce the possibility of tumor cells which decreases the growth of tumor. It is also used to treat several types of cancer.
Keto diet lowers the blood glucose levels which slows down the growth of cancer. It helps to fight against obesity which is a major risk factor when it comes to cancer.
Preventing heart disease
Keto diets help to keep the blood sugar levels in control and which keeps the blood pressure in control and reduces triglyceride levels. It also helps to raise the good cholesterol and control the bad cholesterol.
Decreasing inflammation
This diet is an anti-inflammatory diet. It helps to give relief to the pain by decreasing activity of the nervous system and increase adenosine.
In this way the pain thresholds are reduced which makes the pain more manageable. It helps to improve diseases like arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, IBS and also helps to fight against acne.
Boosts energy and improves sleep
After 4-5 days of following Ketogenic diet, there is an increase in the energy levels and reduction of cravings. It stabilizes the blood glucose levels and boosts energy for the brain and body.
Studies show there are improvements in sleep. It is mostly because of the ketones used by the brain for energy combined with body tissues that are directly burning fat.
Improves gastrointestinal and gallbladder health
Eating a low-carb diet helps to lower the heartburn and reduces the chances of gallstones as the carb intake helps to clear the gallbladder which prevents them from forming. Kidney stones and gouts are caused due to rise in uric levels, calcium, oxalate and phosphorus levels.
Keto diet raises the uric levels temporarily in the initial weeks but lowers it down after around 6 weeks. The digestion process also improves and there is less gas and bloating.
Assisting women’s health
The Keto diet helps to enhance the fertility. There are studies that show Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is treated effectively with low carb diet which reduces prolonged menstrual periods, obesity and acne.
It keeps the blood glucose levels under control which helps to stabilize hormones in women.
Improves the eyes
By following this diet, the blood sugar levels are in control which helps to improve the vision and decreases the risk of cataracts. The low carb high protein diet protects the retina cells and its connection to the brain from degenerating.
Gaining muscles and improving endurance
Bodybuilders follow a keto diet to gain more muscle and reduce fat. This increases endurance which helps to improve mental and physical performance.
From studies it is seen that low carb and blood glucose levels helps to support muscle growth and gives power to the muscles.
Curbing diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome
This diet is very beneficial for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It keeps the blood sugar levels of their body in control. It is also beneficial for people with obesity or the ones looking forward to lose weight as this diet not only helps to lose weight but spares the muscle loss.
It also curbs the risk factors of Metabolic Syndrome which includes hypertension, raised levels of cholesterol, abnormal fluctuation in blood glucose levels and obesity in the abdominal area.
