Is The Keto Diet Heart-Healthy
If you’re trying to lose weight or just live healthier, starting a new diet can help. The ketogenic ("keto") diet has been trending for several years now, due to its success with weight loss and muscle-building. Some have even come to believe that following this diet can aid in preventing or reversing heart failure. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. As we get into the health benefits of the keto diet, heart failure cardiologist and researcher W.H. Wilson Tang, MD, wants you to understand the basics before hopping on this enduring trend. "The keto diet is based on eating little carbs, so the idea is for you to get those extra calories in from protein and fat instead," says Dr. Tang. "The key is to eliminate carbs that come from unhealthy options like soda, sweets, white bread, as well as healthy options like fruit, milk, and whole grains," adds registered dietitian Katherine Patton, RD.
Dr. Tang wants you to know that just because you’re lessening your carb intake, it doesn’t mean you’re automatically preventing heart disease with the keto diet. In fact, you could be facing increased risks of heart disease if not monitored closely by a medical professional. Is the keto diet heart-healthy? "Our skeletal muscles are fueled primarily by glucose, which is a form of sugar derived from the carbohydrates we eat. On the flip side, our hearts derive up to 70% of fuel from fat," says Dr. Tang. Ketone bodies are an alternative source of fuel that your liver makes from fat. So, if you want to train your body to switch from using glucose to ketones, you must decrease your carb intake and Supraketo Supplement replace with lean protein and unsaturated fat. This is the essence of the keto diet. When following the keto diet, you tend to feel less hungry - therefore, aiding in weight loss.
Lowering blood sugar (helpful in preventing diabetes). Lowering triglycerides (a type of fat in your blood that increases the risk of heart disease and stroke). While these short-term benefits can make you feel better, the long-term effects of the keto diet remain unclear. "Because there is no consensus on exactly what the diet includes, this leaves the door open to thinking it’s safe to live on saturated fats and processed foods," says Dr. Tang. As for Supraketo Official heart-health, the jury is still out on whether or Supraketo Official not this diet is actually beneficial. Does the keto diet have benefits for cardiac patients? "I do not know of any high-quality dietary studies that consistently show ketosis is helpful in human hearts," says Dr. Tang. "However, there have been some exciting new data that may point to potential benefits in subsets of heart failure patients. Can the keto diet cause heart issues? Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. A spike in LDL ("bad") cholesterol. In general, if you have heart failure, you’re more likely to develop a blood sugar abnormality.
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And with keto dieters consuming high levels of fat and protein, it’s hard to determine when it turns from healthy to harmful. "It’s possible some patients might benefit from the keto diet, but some might get worse," says Dr. Tang. Because of the potentially harmful effects of the keto diet on heart patients, Dr. Tang and other heart failure specialists advise taking a less-strict approach. Eating a balanced diet that contains complex carbohydrates, unsaturated fats and lean proteins. Choosing fresh fruits and vegetables. Limiting red meat and adding in more fish. Cutting back on sugars, simple carbohydrates, saturated fats and trans fats. Replacing sodium with flavorful herbs, spices and vinegars. Tang suggests two "natural," safe options for generating ketone bodies. "The first is to sleep more, as sleep generates ketosis naturally. The second is to consider reducing caloric intake through intermittent fasting - although this still warrants close monitoring by your doctor.
This guide is based on scientific evidence, following our policy for evidence-based guides. Click for more info. To begin, simply delay the time you eat breakfast. For example, if you usually eat breakfast at 7am, wait until 9 am. Then stretch it longer. Some individuals should avoid fasting or only fast under direct physician supervision. This guide is based on scientific evidence, following our policy for evidence-based guides. Click for more info. Intermittent fasting has become one of the most popular and possibly easiest means for weight loss and better health. For some, fasting may sound scary and uncomfortable, but it doesn’t have to be. In this guide, you’ll learn all you need to know to get started with a successful intermittent fasting routine. What is intermittent fasting? Intermittent fasting, often abbreviated as IF, is any voluntary time period where you go without food. It is not a diet, per se, since it doesn’t specify what to eat; it only specifies when to eat.