A prominent group of specialists examined over 120 nutrition studies to issue this warning.
The keto diet has gained popularity in recent years. It has been successful in helping many people lose weight and because many dieters find it helpful to put certain items completely off-limits when trying to lose weight. If you're one of them, a group of health researchers wants to raise some concerns about what they're calling the "very-low-carbohydrate" diet: It's only been related to a few of the most well-known chronic and long-term illnesses.
Seven medicine and nutrition researchers from institutions across the United States and Canada analyzed 123 previous studies for a paper published in the peer-reviewed Frontiers in Nutrition. According to the study, the ketogenic diet's technique of severely reducing carbohydrate intake and imposing fasting time constraints around eating can impact how the body metabolizes fat. "[...F]or most individuals, the hazards of ketogenic diets may outweigh the benefits," the study's authors write after their review.
The researchers believe that the keto diet's high intake of meat, cheese, oils, and other primary components, combined with a lack of necessary nutrients, increases the risk of various prevalent chronic disorders. "The foods that are emphasized on a keto diet are the very products that cause colon cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease," said Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and a professor at George Washington University's School of Medicine, via VegNews. The ketogenic diet has also been linked to chronic kidney disease and diabetes, according to the study.
The authors also warn that the keto diet could lead to the birth of a child with brain and spinal neural tube abnormalities in pregnant women or women who may become pregnant.
"New research also reveals that these same foods increase the likelihood of severe COVID-19," Barnard noted.
While it may be exhilarating to slip into that favorite pair of old clothes or go on the scale and see that number drop, you may agree that your long-term health is more important. The researchers believe that eating "protective foods", including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, can help prevent chronic diseases by providing minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients.