The Keto Diet for Weight Loss

Naturopathic Nuggets about the Ketogenic Diet

  • The Ketogenic Diet is a century old remedy for epilepsy, that is now proven neuroprotective, affecting other neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Disease.
  • The Ketogenic Diet has been researched to improve many conditions including Acne, Autoimmune Diseases, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Metabolic Syndrome, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussions and Obesity
  • A ketogenic diet consists of 70% healthy fats, 25% quality protein and 5% carbs to trigger ketosis for optimal fat burning and weight loss.
  • To reach ketosis it is critical to avoid eating too many carbs or too much protein as either can become fuel for the body & brain. The key is to minimize carbs and increase fat to promote fat burning but prevent starvation which would cause muscle wasting.
  • Side effects of ketosis include constipation, diarrhea, heart palpitations, keto breath, keto flu, leg cramps, reduced stamina & fitness. They are often the result of dehydration and/or salt deficiency, and usually resolve within a few weeks.
  • Please consult your licensed Naturopathic Physician for assistance with the Ketogenic Diet if you suffer from diabetes, heart disease, gallbladder or pancreatic disease, or are taking prescription medications.

Ketogenic Diet: What is it?

The Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss is critical what with obesity as the number one health challenge facing us today, causing many metabolic diseases. A ketogenic diet has been the foundational way of eating from our caveman days. This high fat, adequate protein, ultra low carb eating plan alters your body biochemically into a metabolic state called ketosis for optimal fat burning and weight loss.

Epilepsy treatments have been investigated since 500 BC. It was originally documented in 1911 that starvation, a form intermittent fasting, reduced seizures dramatically. By the 1920s, the ketogenic diet was found to be a successful alternative, eliminating seizures in at least 50%, reducing them in another 27% and the realization, that minimizing carbohydrates improved brain function, was born (Wheless, 2008). Unfortunately, new anti-epileptic drugs made the recommendations of the ketogenic diet obselete over time, making it a last resort alternative.

A ketogenic diet is when carbs are dramatically reduced to 5% or less than 20 grams, protein is limited to 25%, and fat intake escalates to at least 70% to replace the carbs, helping you feel full. When carbs are restricted, the liver converts fat into ketones for energy & brain function. Instead of surviving on carbs (sugars) for brain fuel, your body uses ketones from your fat stores, transforming your body into an efficient fat-burning machine. This is called ketosis. In fact, many clinical studies have supported the countless benefits that a ketogenic diet has on health, weight loss and disease prevention.

The Ketogenic diet is different from the Atkins diet in that the ketogenic diet highlights less protein, no deli or processed meats (bacon & ham) and healthier fats. While both diets are low carb emphasizing the body’s fat-burning effect, the ketogenic diet has a lot of research to validate its effectiveness.

The ketogenic diet is now being studied for its neuroprotective effect through improved cellular metabolism on other neurological disorders aside from Epilepsy, including Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), AutismBrain Cancer, Headache, Neurotrauma (Traumatic Brain Injury), Pain, Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and Sleep Disorders (Gano, Patel, & Rho, 2014).

 

Ketogenic Diet: Why?

For many decades, the universally accepted diet in North America emphasized a high carbohydrate, low fat intake. However, recent studies verify this diet has backfired for the majority of North Americans.

Results from a long-term study by the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention indicate that in the last decade overweight North Americans have increased from ¼ to of the population! As such, society is fatter and less healthy in view of all the health-related concerns associated with weight gain and nutrient deficiencies.

In fact, obesity is a growing epidemic worldwide, and increases risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Ketogenic diets have proven to be highly effective in the fight against not only Obesity (Bueno et al., 2013), but also Diabetes, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Acne, Neurological Diseases, & Cancer while improving risk factors for Lung & Heart Disease (Paoli, Rubini, Volek, & Grimaldi, 2013).

 

Learn more on the Ketogenic Diet Health Benefits…

The Keto Diet for Weight Loss | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

The Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss

The Ketogenic Diet for Weight Loss is critical what with obesity as the number one health challenge facing us today, causing many metabolic diseases. Millions of adults die yearly from these obesity-related conditions. The rise of weight loss fad diets have increased with the incidence of overweight & obese populations with little science to support their claims (Freedman, King, & Kennedy, 2001).

Conversely, the ketogenic diet is well researched to be a efficient way to lose weight and get healthy. The higher fat intake with a ketogenic diet is satisfying, allowing weight loss without calorie-counting.

For many decades, the universally accepted diet in North America emphasized a high carbohydrate, low fat intake. However, recent studies verify this diet has backfired for the majority of North Americans.

The ketogenic diet is superior to high carb, low fat diets in compliance, weight loss, health benefits & cravings. High carb, low fat (low protein) diets are hard to stick to, cause sugar & fat cravings, result in only moderate weight loss and often rebound weight gain, increase blood sugar, cholesterol and insulin resistance (Paoli, Rubini, Volek, & Grimaldi, 2013).

The ketogenic diet resulted in more weight loss and more fat loss with improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, fasting blood sugar & insulin sensitivity in women compared to those on a low fat diet (Brehm, Seeley, Daniels, & D’Alessio, 2003).

 

The Keto Diet for Weight Loss | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

The Ketogenic Diet: How Does It Cause Weight Loss?

There are multiple mechanisms still in debate on how ketogenic diets promote weight loss, yet there is no doubt that weight loss occurs. These mechanisms include:

 

Appetite Suppressant

The ketogenic diet suppresses appetite from ketones produced from fat conversion in the liver, higher satiety of proteins and its effect on appetite control hormones. Ghrelin (hunger hormone) increases were suppressed & leptin was lower on the ketogenic diet (Sumithran et al., 2013). Basically, the ketogenic diet keeps you full and prevents rebound hunger causing weight regain.

 

Calorie Reduction

The other metabolic effect of limiting carbs is calorie reduction which assists in weight loss. When calories are the same between low carb & high carb diets, greater weight loss is present with ketogenic (low carb) diets, from the metabolic advantage of thermodynamics. Basically you lose more weight per calorie with a ketogenic diet (Feinman & Fine, 2007).

 

Fat Burning Increased

ketogenic diet increases fat burning (lipolysis). When carbs are restricted, the liver converts fat into ketones for energy & brain function. Instead of surviving on carbs (sugars) for brain fuel, your body uses ketones from your fat stores, transforming your body into an efficient fat-burning machine (Veldhorst, Westerterp-Plantenga, & Westerterp, 2009).

 

Fat Storage Decreased

Research suggests that a ketogenic diet lowers fat storage or the conversion of sugar into fat, called lipogenesis (Veldhorst, Westerterp-Plantenga, & Westerterp, 2009).

 

Food Allergies

Minimizing carbohydrates avoids some potential food allergies, which can cause gut inflammation, dysbiosis (altered gut bacteria) & leaky gut syndrome, all of which disrupt healthy weight maintenance.

 

Higher Protein

Ketogenic diets permit more protein than high carb, low fat diets, allowing successful weight loss from feeling satisfied, heat production & energy efficiency with improved body composition (Westerterp-Plantenga, Nieuwenhuizen, Tomé, Soenen, & Westerterp, 2009).

 

Insulin Sensitivity

The ketogenic diet has been researched to improve all markers that define metabolic syndrome. A study in Lipids journal compared the low fat to the low carb diet with similar calorie intake. The ketogenic diet (low carb) was found to lower blood sugar & insulin levels, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce visceral fat & overall weight, while improving cholesterol profiles (less triglycerides, post-meal fat, ApoB ratio & Cholesterol/HDL ratio, with increased good cholesterol, HDL). Even though the ketogenic diet had 3X more dietary saturated fat, blood fats were reduced as was fat storing or lipogenesis (Volek et al., 2009).

 

 

Metabolism Increases

The ketogenic diet increases your metabolism through gluconeogenesis; converting fat & protein into sugar (fuel) burning through more calories (Veldhorst, Westerterp-Plantenga, & Westerterp, 2009). When calories are the same between low carb & high carb diets, greater weight loss is present with ketogenic (low carb) diets, from the metabolic advantage of thermodynamics. Basically you lose more weight per calorie with a ketogenic diet (Feinman & Fine, 2007).

 

Satiety

The ketogenic diet requires increased fat intake which helps you feel full. Meanwhile the ketones produced from fat conversion suppresses appetite and influences appetite control hormones. Ghrelin (hunger hormone) increases were suppressed & leptin was lower on the ketogenic diet (Sumithran et al., 2013). Basically, the ketogenic diet keeps you full and prevents rebound hunger causing weight regain.

 

Weight Loss Maintenance

Diet-induced weight loss typically causes changes in satiety hormones (leptin, ghrelin & CCK) to encourage weight regain & restore energy balance. However, ghrelin (hunger hormone) increases were suppressed & leptin was lower on the ketogenic diet (Sumithran et al., 2013). Basically, the ketogenic diet keeps you full and prevents rebound hunger causing weight regain.

 

The Keto Diet for Weight Loss | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Ketogenic Diet Myths

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #1:
A High Fat Diet Clogs Your Arteries

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #2:
A High Fat Diet Makes
Your Cholesterol High

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #3:
Your Brain Needs Carbs

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #4:
Low Carb Causes Vitamin Deficiencies

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #5:
Low Carb is Bad for Your Thyroid

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #6:
Low Carb is Bad for Your Kidneys

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #7:
Low Carb Makes You Depressed

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #8:
You Need Carbs to Exercise

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #9:
Low Carb is Bad for Your Gut Bacteria

Dr. Jiwani Ketogenic Diet for Newbies: The Why, When & How of this Low Carb Fat Burning Regime 70-25-5* | Dr. Jiwani's Naturopathic Nuggets Blog

Keto Myth #10:
Low Carb is Bad for Your Bones

References

Agarwal N, Arkilo D, Farooq O, Gillogly C, Kavak KS, Weinstock A. Ketogenic diet: Predictors of seizure control. SAGE Open Medicine. 2017 

Brehm BJ, Seeley RJ, Daniels SR, D’alessio DA. A randomized trial comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2003 Apr 1;88(4):1617-23.

Bueno NB, de Melo IS, de Oliveira SL, da Rocha Ataide T. Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. British Journal of Nutrition. 2013 Oct;110(7):1178-87.

Feinman RD, Fine EJ. Nonequilibrium thermodynamics and energy efficiency in weight loss diets. Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling. 2007 Dec;4(1):27.

Freedman MR, King J, Kennedy E. Popular diets: a scientific review.

Gano L, Patel M, Rho JM. Ketogenic diets, mitochondria and neurological diseases. Journal of Lipid Research. 2014 May 20:jlr-R048975.

Gasior M, Rogawski MA, Hartman AL. Neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects of the ketogenic diet. Behavioural Pharmacology. 2006 Sep;17(5-6):431.

Ketogenic diet [Internet]. En.wikipedia.org. 2018 [cited 28 October 2018]. Available from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketogenic_diet

Khodadadi S, Sobhani N, Mirshekar S, Ghiasvand R, Pourmasoumi M, Miraghajani M, Dehsoukhteh SS. Tumor cells growth and survival time with the ketogenic diet in animal models: a systematic review. International Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2017;8.

Kosinski C, Jornayvaz FR. Effects of ketogenic diets on cardiovascular risk factors: evidence from animal and human studies. Nutrients. 2017 May 19;9(5):517.

Martin CK, Rosenbaum D, Han H, Geiselman PJ, Wyatt HR, Hill JO, Brill C, Bailer B, Miller‐III BV, Stein R, Klein S. Change in food cravings, food preferences, and appetite during a low‐carbohydrate and low‐fat diet. Obesity. 2011 Oct;19(10):1963-70.

Mavropoulos JC, Yancy WS, Hepburn J, Westman EC. The effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet on the polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study. Nutrition & Metabolism. 2005 Dec;2(1):35.

Mayer SB, Jeffreys AS, Olsen MK, McDuffie JR, Feinglos MN, Yancy Jr WS. Two diets with different haemoglobin A1c and antiglycaemic medication effects despite similar weight loss in type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2014 Jan;16(1):90-3.

Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Tangney CC, Bennett DA, Aggarwal N, Schneider J, Wilson RS. Dietary fats and the risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Archives of Neurology. 2003 Feb 1;60(2):194-200.

Nakamura K, Tonouchi H, Sasayama A, Ashida K. A Ketogenic Formula Prevents Tumor Progression and Cancer Cachexia by Attenuating Systemic Inflammation in Colon 26 Tumor-Bearing Mice. Nutrients. 2018 Feb 14;10(2):206.

New Adult Obesity Maps [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018 [cited 14 October 2018]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html

Paoli A, Grimaldi K, Toniolo L, Canato M, Bianco A, Fratter A. Nutrition and acne: therapeutic potential of ketogenic diets. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2012;25(3):111-7.

Paoli A, Rubini A, Volek JS, Grimaldi KA. Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2013 Aug;67(8):789.

Paoli A. Ketogenic diet for obesity: friend or foe?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2014 Feb 19;11(2):2092-107.

Prins ML, Fujima LS, Hovda DA. Age‐dependent reduction of cortical contusion volume by ketones after traumatic brain injury. Journal of Neuroscience Research. 2005 Nov 1;82(3):413-20

Rauch JT, Silva JE, Lowery RP, McCleary SA, Shields KA, Ormes JA, Sharp MH, Weiner SI, Georges JI, Volek JS, D’agostino DP. The effects of ketogenic dieting on skeletal muscle and fat mass. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2014 Dec 1;11(S1):P40.

Reger MA, Henderson ST, Hale C, Cholerton B, Baker LD, Watson GS, Hyde K, Chapman D, Craft S. Effects of β-hydroxybutyrate on cognition in memory-impaired adults. Neurobiology of Aging. 2004 Mar 1;25(3):311-4.

Smith RN, Mann NJ, Braue A, Mäkeläinen H, Varigos GA. The effect of a high-protein, low glycemic–load diet versus a conventional, high glycemic–load diet on biochemical parameters associated with acne vulgaris: A randomized, investigator-masked, controlled trial. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2007 Aug 1;57(2):247-56.

Sumithran P, Prendergast LA, Delbridge E, Purcell K, Shulkes A, Kriketos A, Proietto J. Ketosis and appetite-mediating nutrients and hormones after weight loss. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2013 Jul;67(7):759.

Vargas S, Romance R, Petro JL, Bonilla DA, Galancho I, Espinar S, Kreider RB, Benítez-Porres J. Efficacy of ketogenic diet on body composition during resistance training in trained men: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2018 Dec;15(1):31.

Veldhorst MA, Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Westerterp KR. Gluconeogenesis and energy expenditure after a high-protein, carbohydrate-free diet–. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2009 Jul 29;90(3):519-26.

Volek JS, Phinney SD, Forsythe CE, Quann EE, Wood RJ, Puglisi MJ, Kraemer WJ, Bibus DM, Fernandez ML, Feinman RD. Carbohydrate restriction has a more favorable impact on the metabolic syndrome than a low fat diet. Lipids. 2009 Apr 1;44(4):297-309.

Weber DD, Aminazdeh-Gohari S, Kofler B. Ketogenic diet in cancer therapy. Aging (Albany NY). 2018 Feb;10(2):164.

Westerterp-Plantenga MS, Nieuwenhuizen A, Tome D, Soenen S, Westerterp KR. Dietary protein, weight loss, and weight maintenance. Annual Review of Nutrition. 2009 Aug 21;29:21-41.

Westman EC, Mavropoulos J, Yancy WS, Volek JS. A review of low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets. Current Atherosclerosis Reports. 2003 Nov 1;5(6):476-83.

Wheless JW. History of the ketogenic diet. Epilepsia. 2008 Nov;49:3-5.

Xie G, Zhou Q, Qiu CZ, Dai WK, Wang HP, Li YH, Liao JX, Lu XG, Lin SF, Ye JH, Ma ZY. Ketogenic diet poses a significant effect on imbalanced gut microbiota in infants with refractory epilepsy. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2017 Sep 7;23(33):6164.

Young KW, Greenwood CE, Van Reekum R, Binns MA. A randomized, crossover trial of high-carbohydrate foods in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease: associations among intervention response, body mass index, and behavioral and cognitive function. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2005 Aug 1;60(8):1039-45.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not advocate self-diagnosis.  Due to individual variability, consultation with a licensed health professional, such as a licensed naturopathic physician is highly recommended, prior to starting a natural treatment plan. For further information, see Terms of our Website.

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