5 Surprising Things About the Keto Diet

1. The Keto Diet Can Help You Live Longer and Preserve Memory

Want to live a longer, healthier life? Emerging research is showing you may be able to by changing your nutritional approach. A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet has been shown to extend health span (how healthy you are) as well as lifespan (how long you live) in adult mice in a recent study. In addition, motor function, memory, and muscle mass were found to be preserved in aged ketogenic mice as well.

“The results surprised me a little,” said nutritionist Jon Ramsey, senior author of the paper that appears in the September 2017 issue of Cell Metabolism. “We expected some differences, but I was impressed by the magnitude we observed — a 13 percent increase in median lifespan for the mice on a high-fat versus high-carb diet. In humans, that would be seven to 10 years. But equally important, those mice retained quality of health in later life.”

2. A Keto Diet Can Help With Acne and Skin Conditions

Recent studies have shown that high glycemic index foods (foods that trigger rapid spikes in blood sugar) may contribute to acne. Since the keto diet includes minimal carbs & sugar, it avoids these acne-causing food types. Research on the exact mechanisms behind keto reducing acne is ongoing, but a study of athletes following the keto diet reported improvements in skin condition as well as overall well being.

3. The Keto Diet Can Help With Weight Loss

It’s well established that the keto diet can aid in weight loss. Keto before and after transformations pervade Instagram…#keto. Keto weight loss calculators abound the internet. While it’s true that weight loss occurs according to the laws of thermodynamics -- that calories in equates to calories out -- certain foods are more satiating and make you feel full with the same number of calories. Hormonal changes play an important role in our metabolism as well. The main factor in weight loss on keto is the reduction in appetite due to higher satiety effect of protein in the diet vs. carbs, effects of the keto diet on appetite control hormones and to the possible appetite-suppressant effect of ketones themselves.

The term "keto" is booming on Google!

4. Keto Diets Can be Vegetarian

So what should you eat on keto? Bacon, eggs, and avocado show up on your typical keto diet menu. Can’t eat meat? Keto is still possible. However, with a vegetarian keto diet one must be wary of carbohydrate intake from vegetables. Just because you’re vegetarian doesn’t meant you can eat unlimited vegetables. Being vegetarian on keto requires a bit of extra creativity, so be on the lookout for keto diet recipes that include healthy fat sources like oils, olives, avocados, cocoa butter, coconut cream, dairy, and eggs.

5. The Keto Diet May Help Treat Cardiovascular Disease

In the past, there have been doubts about the safety and increased effectiveness of high-fat diets. Not so! Scientific evidence has shown that a ketogenic diet may reduce cardiovascular risk factors. More specifically, the diet may improve blood lipid profiles and reduce triglycerides in the blood. The ketogenic diet has been reported to increase the size of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Research shows that small dense LDL cholesterol is inflammatory and toxic to blood vessels. They are more likely to lodge themselves into arterial walls causing a host of issues and keto may mitigate these issues.

You Can “Cheat” and Still Benefit

It seems clear that a keto diet can have a positive impact on health and well-being. That said, it might not be realistic for everyone to follow a ketogenic diet to the “T”, so you may consider “cyclical” keto diet as an alternative. In a cyclical plan, you might eat keto 5 days a week and eat a mixed diet 1-2 days a week. Many people find this more sustainable long-term. Keep these things in mind when choosing the best nutritional approach for you.