I know, we’ve been all doom and gloom about the Keto Diet in the past but just to cover all bases, we would like to acknowledge the health benefits the Ketogenic diet has been known to deliver.
Weight Loss
Of course the most obvious benefit (and the reason people go on the diet in the first place) is weight loss. However, there are some surprising additional benefits.
For instance, the Keto diet has shown potential to improve glucose levels in people with diabetes, due to low carbohydrate intake. Another addition to the benefits of the Keto Diet is its possibility to help treat neurological conditions.
Neurological Conditions
Historically, the Keto Diet was originally used back in the 1920s to treat childhood epilepsy and is still being used today. Research suggests that the presence of ketones can influence neurotransmitter activity in the brain, leading to reduced seizures. In fact, a recent study found showed a 30-40% reduction in seizures for those following a Keto diet.
Using Epilepsy as a reference, medical professionals have since began exploration into the diets potential in treating other neurological diseases.
A 2018 study conducted by the University of Kansas Medical Center assessed the feasibility and cognitive effects off the Keto diet in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The study found that the Ketogenic diet improved cognitive function for a short time – however, was only deemed to be effective for early stages of the illnesses and cannot be conclusive due to sample size.
Additionally, many participants dropped out of the trial citing patient/carer burden, so perhaps more care needs to applied for future studies.
If the Keto diet is something you’re interested in learning more about, feel free to come and talk to us and we can discuss whether this is the diet for you.
