A ketogenic diet is a diet that makes the body focus on a process known as ketosis, according to which fats, instead of carbohydrates, are burned for energy purposes. A proper ketogenic diet makes a dieter consume diets high in fat, a considerable amount of protein, and a very low amount of carbohydrates.

The human body is used to converting carbohydrates into glucose for the body to use as energy. When a person enters the process of ketosis by limiting carbohydrate intake, their liver starts breaking down fat cells into two components, namely ketones and fatty acids, to be used as energy.

A ketogenic diet has multiple health benefits. A few are listed below:

Used as a cure for epilepsy

Children suffering from epilepsy due to changes in GLUT-1, which transports glucose across the blood-brain barrier, undergo seizures during the infancy stage itself. If not identified early and taken care of well, children develop spasticity, microcephaly, mental retardation, and ataxia, as an outcome of brain hypoglycemia. These children respond well and benefit from a ketogenic diet, as it is believed to provide their central nervous system with an alternative fuel source. The positive impact of a ketogenic diet on this medical state has been discussed in detail by Wang D and co-authors in their research work “Glut – 1 deficiency syndrome: Clinical, genetic, and therapeutic aspects.”

Effect of ketogenic diet on acute stroke

A stroke is marked by impaired blood and oxygen supply to the cells of human brain. By decreasing availability of glucose to brain cells, damage in the ischemic penumbra (periphery of the stroke) can be decreased. As compared to sugar, burning ketone bodies require less oxygen to generate the same amount of energy, suggesting that brain cells during circumstances of reduced oxygen supply have a greater chance of survival. Furthermore, the ketogenic diet does not encourage an increase in blood sugar level, which could be advantageous to stroke patients admitted with hyperglycemia; a condition that is associated with serious outcomes. In an interventional study conducted by University of Copenhagen at the neurological units at Denmark`s Glostrup and Bispebjerg, the effect of a ketogenic diet on patients hospitalized with acute stroke has been researched with positive results.

Controls blood sugar and lessens insulin spikes

When we consume carbohydrates, our blood sugar levels rise swiftly. This rapidly increases the insulin response from the pancreatic gland. The insulin disperses excess blood glucose, making you feel hungry. By sticking to a low carbohydrate diet, blood sugar levels can be kept low and steady, as a result, the body is kept away from carbohydrate-induced hunger spikes. Reducing insulin levels is the most vital parameter of success with any diet, as insulin is the hormone that instructs the body to store fat. By keeping insulin levels low, an environment can be created within our bodies that encourage fat lipolysis and limit fat storage.

Allows an individual to eat food that is filling and satiating

Many find that restricting calorie intake on a ketogenic diet is very easy. When a person is on a ketogenic diet, they will be consuming a majority of their calories every day from fats and protein, both of which are ‘quite filling and satiating’. Even though refined sugars and simple carbohydrates are removed from the diet, since 2,000 calories are consumed, it is adequate to fill oneself up each day.

Causes weight loss

When the body is on a ketogenic diet, the body makes use of fat as its source of fuel. In absence of a great deal of carbohydrates and glycogen, the body will switch to its long-term fuel source - fat. Forcing the body to undergo ketosis by limiting carbohydrate consumption ensures that the body burns fat, not just for the physical activity requirements, but also for metabolism, respiration, and other such activities that is performed round the clock by the body. This makes weight loss not only easy but inevitable.

A ketogenic diet, which is the consumption of lower amounts of carbohydrates, has multiple health benefits. From helping one to lose weight, reducing the chances of stroke, to helping one in fighting cancer, the benefits are many and diverse. But before you decide to undergo a change in your dietary plan, it is always wise to consult a physician.