The ketogenic diet has become a popular diet program that often reaps controversy. This diet program is also referred to as a low-carbohydrate diet because it is done by cutting carbohydrate consumption to a very low level accompanied by low protein and high fat intake.
This diet was originally used as a therapy for epilepsy patients, which developed because more and more studies found other benefits of this diet program. Here are seven health problems that benefit from the ketogenic diet:
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disease that causes seizures due to excessive brain activity. Of all the health problems that benefit from the ketogenic diet, epilepsy is a disease that has been proven beneficial through existing research.
Researchers say that the symptoms of seizures due to epilepsy improve by 50% in patients who apply a ketogenic diet. This diet applies a 4:1 ratio for the amount of protein and carbohydrates consumed. The ketogenic diet has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in pediatric and adult epilepsy patients who do not respond well to medication.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome, sometimes also referred to as prediabetes, is characterized by insulin resistance in the body. A person can be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome if they have at least 3 of the following 5 criteria:
- Have a large waist circumference, more than 89 cm for women.
- Elevated triglyceride level, 150 mg/dl or more.
- Low levels of HDL cholesterol, less than 50 mg/dL for women.
- High blood pressure, 130/85 mmHg or higher.
- High blood sugar level, 100 mg/dL or higher.
The risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some serious health problems related to resistance increases in people with metabolic syndrome. The good news is that adopting a ketogenic diet can improve a person's metabolic syndrome by reducing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.
A large waist circumference is one of the criteria for metabolic syndrome.
Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD)
GSD, or glycogen storage disease, is a disease that occurs as a result of abnormalities with enzymes involved in the process of glycogen metabolism. Several types of GSD are differentiated based on the type of enzyme missing.
Usually, the disease is diagnosed in childhood with symptoms ranging from stunted growth, lethargy, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, and an enlarged liver. GSD patients are often advised to consume high-carbohydrate foods at short intervals or breaks to ensure the supply of glucose to the body.
However, some studies state that the ketogenic diet has benefits for some types of GSD. For example, the ketogenic diet helps relieve symptoms in type III GSD, or Forbes-Cori disease, by providing ketones as an alternative energy source.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a condition characterized by hormonal disturbances in women of childbearing age, which often trigger irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. One of the main signs of POCS is insulin resistance, and many women with PCOS are obese and have difficulty losing weight.
In a study that lasted 6 months and involved 11 women with PCOS, it was found that patients who adopted a ketogenic diet lost an average of 12% more weight than the group who did not apply it.
Women with PCOS have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes. Adopting a ketogenic diet can also help lower insulin levels and improve hormone function in women with PCOS.
Diabetes
People with diabetes show an impressive reduction in their blood sugar levels after adopting a ketogenic diet for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This is supported by many research findings that state low-carb diets can help control blood sugar levels and provide various other health benefits. In fact, 17 out of 21 diabetes patients managed to get off or reduce their diabetes medication dose after 16 weeks of following the ketogenic diet.
Normal blood sugar levels for women range from 70-130 mm/dL when measured before eating.
In addition to the conditions mentioned above, it turns out that the ketogenic diet still has the potential to provide benefits for several types of cancer, autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, which will be discussed in the article Part II. Even though it has many potential benefits, the ketogenic diet is not a good one to apply in the long term. Moreover, the body still needs carbohydrates as the main energy source.
For that, consult a doctor before implementing a ketogenic diet, especially if you have certain health problems, ladies!
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Source:
Spritzler, F. (2020). 15 Health Conditions That May Benefit From a Ketogenic Diet. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-conditions-benefit-ketogenic-diet