Most of us are familiar with the keto diet by now, but even though we think we know all about it, we do not. You really need to research this diet to realize all it has to offer you in terms of health, weight, and mental clarity.
I have researched this diet for years now and here are 8 benefits of being on keto that you may or may not know:
Benefit #1: the keto diet can help you obtain (and maintain!) a healthy weight
The keto diet is excellent for losing fat and keeping it off. For example, a meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials concluded that:
“Individuals assigned to a VLCKD [very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet] achieve a greater weight loss than those assigned to an LFD [low-fat diet] in the long term; hence, a VLCKD may be an alternative tool against obesity.”[1]
What’s more, randomized controlled trials found that the keto diet produces up to three times as much weight loss as a high-carb, low-fat diet.[2-3]
In other words, if you want to lean down but are sick and tired of failing your weight loss attempts, the keto diet may be the key to a slim figure.
Benefit #2: the keto diet boosts brain function
When going keto, most people experience an improvement in their brain function and mental clarity.[4-5]
The keto diet supports your brain in various ways and for various reasons. A major reason is that ketosis enhances mitochondrial functioning. [6]
Researchers believe ketosis stimulates the formation of new mitochondria in your brain, especially in your hippocampus. [7] This aids your mental clarity, memory, and energy levels.
Benefit #3: the keto diet can help manage or even reverse diabetes
Many studies show minimizing carb intake benefits people with diabetes. In fact, the keto diet was the standard diabetes treatment before the discovery of injectable insulin. [8-9]
Consider the following:
Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that when type 2 diabetics went low-carb for two weeks, they improved insulin sensitivity by up to 75%. [10]
And another study involving 21 individuals with type 2 diabetes found that seven of them could stop their diabetes medication within 16 weeks of going keto. [11]
Benefit #4: the keto diet reduces heart disease risk
While saturated fat and cholesterol are often alleged to clog arteries, these compounds do not cause heart disease. [12-14]
That’s good news for keto dieters because this eating style loads up on high-fat foods such as eggs, nuts, and bacon.
In fact, the keto diet reduces heart disease risk for four main reasons. The keto diet: [15-18]
Stimulates weight loss
Elevates levels of the “good” HDL cholesterol
Decreases blood triglycerides levels
Reduces blood pressure
Benefit #5: the keto diet boosts mental well-being
The keto diet benefits various mental disorders and conditions. For example, research shows the keto diet: [19-22]
Has an antidepressant effect
Improves the behavior of children with autism
May stabilize mood in bipolar disorder patients
Has cured one case of schizophrenia
Benefit #6: the keto diet can be therapeutic for various neurological diseases
These include Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, infantile spasms (West syndrome), and epilepsy. [23-26]
Benefit #7: the keto diet may prevent and fight some types of cancer
Most cancer cells rely on glucose as fuel, which is why keto diets may help prevent and fight the disease.
For instance, when in-vitro cancer cells only receive ketones and fat for energy, they often die. [27] Plus, various studies show the keto diet helps fight brain cancer. [28-29]
Benefit #8: the keto diet can improve gut health and bowel disorders
Many bowel diseases are the result of gut pathogens and infections, both of which rely on glucose for energy.
By minimizing your carb intake, you stave off these infections and pathogens. That’s how going keto diet can improve gut health and treat bowel disease.
I don't expect anyone to just take my word for any of this. I will provide the bibliography below for anyone who wants to take a deep-dive into the science. I know that just because I am a science nerd, not everyone is or wants to be.
That noted, I still believe that if you research this diet on your own, you will also come up with these same benefits. Popular articles will support these scientific papers.
One last bit of information for you. Did you know that the Keto Diet was not developed for weight loss? In the 1920s, the Keto Diet was developed to treat epilepsy. Since then, it’s been used for medical treatments off and on, including for diabetes.
This diet has been around for quite a long time, so it is not a "new fad diet" as some would like to think. There is over 100 years of evidence to back the benefits of eating a keto diet. Maybe you should try it out for yourself.
Bibliography:
1. Br J Nutr. 2013 Oct;110(7):1178-87.
2. J Pediatr. 2003 Mar;142(3):253-8.
3. N Engl J Med. 2003 May 22;348(21):2074-81.
4. Appetite. 2009 Feb;52(1):96-103.
5. Neurobiol Aging. 2012 Feb;33(2):425.e19-27.
6. J Child Neurol. 2013 Aug; 28(8): 1027–1033.
7. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Mar;1790(3):208-12.
8. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2008 Dec 19;5:36.
9. Nutrition. 2015 Jan;31(1):1-13.
10. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Mar 15;142(6):403-11.
11. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2005; 2: 34.
12. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Mar;91(3):535-46.
13. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Aug;102(2):276-94.
14. Ann Intern Med. 2014 Mar 18;160(6):398-406.
15. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Oct 25;164(19):2141-6.
16. J Nutr. 2006 Feb;136(2):384-9.
17. N Engl J Med. 2003 May 22;348(21):2082-90.
18. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 Jul;90(1):23-32
19. Biol Psychiatry. 2004 Dec 15;56(12):981-3.
20. Pediatr Neurol. 2009 Aug;41(2):111-3.
21. J Child Neurol. 2003 Feb;18(2):113-8.
21. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Dec;57(6):724-6.
22. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2009 Feb 26;6:10.
23. BMC Neurosci. 2006 Apr 3;7:29.
24. Brain Res. 2009 Aug 25;1286:25-31.
25. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2009 Aug 10;6:31.
26. Lancet Neurol. 2004 Jul;3(7):415-20.
27. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Mar; 35(3): 515–527.
28. J Cancer Res Ther. 2009 Sep;5 Suppl 1:S7-15.
29. J Am Coll Nutr. 1995 Apr;14(2):202-8.
