Can the ketogenic diet help you lose weight and fight cancer? Nutrition experts say this!

In the past one or two years, we have often heard that the ketogenic diet can save lives. Many books have also been published on the market recommending that the ketogenic diet can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and even have the benefit of weight loss without starving yourself. So what exactly is the ketogenic diet?

The "ketogenic diet" that has been hotly discussed on the Internet and in newspapers and magazines recently claims to be the most suitable diet for weight loss. Not only does it not require you to starve, but you can also eat a lot. Many studies have pointed out that the ketogenic diet can save lives, help fight cancer, lower blood lipids, blood pressure and blood sugar, etc., which has attracted the attention of many people who pay attention to health. What is the ketogenic diet?

Ketone bodies provide energy for hibernating animals

Have you ever wondered why many hibernating animals, such as polar bears, can go up to 5 months without food? The answer is to use fatty acids to convert into "ketone bodies" as a source of energy for the body. What exactly are ketone bodies? Lin Mengyu, a nutritionist at Zhenxing Hospital, explained that when there is sufficient glucose, the engine of human cells (mitochondria) will preferentially burn glucose to generate energy, and then convert the excess glucose into glycogen, protein or fat for storage. However, if you eat less carbohydrates (sugars) and the blood sugar (glucose) level decreases, you will first break down glycogen into glucose for use.

When glycogen is used up, the human body will force the body to convert fat into "ketone bodies" and then use ketone bodies to replace glucose as a raw material for generating energy. This is because ketone bodies can replace glucose as a cellular raw material and enter the mitochondrial Krebs cycle to produce energy. This is why many hibernating animals eat to the point of becoming fat and bloated during the summer and fall, and can hide in caves for up to five months in the winter without eating, because their bodies burn stored fat and convert it into energy or milk for feeding.

Very high fat, very low starch is the ketogenic diet

Simply put, the ketogenic diet is a diet that uses high fat, very low carbohydrates and moderate protein. By forcing the body to burn fat, it is somewhat similar to simulating the body being in a state of hunger, forcing the body to produce "ketone bodies" (rather than sugar) as an energy source.

"How high does the fat content have to be to be called a ketogenic diet?" Lin Mengyu further explained that under normal physiological conditions, humans distribute the three major nutrients in food with carbohydrates as the main energy source. The sugars consumed will be converted into glucose after digestion, allowing the body to use it as energy. The required amount is about 50-60%, while fat is 20-30% and protein is 15-20%.

However, if you want to use high fat to produce ketone bodies as energy, you must reduce the carbohydrate content of the diet to a very low level, to less than 5%, and increase the fat ratio to 80-90%, while maintaining protein at 15-20%. In this way, when the liver gradually breaks down the stored glycogen into glucose, until it is not enough to meet the body's needs, it will mobilize the stored fat and convert it into fatty acids and ketone bodies to replace the energy source that should have been provided by glucose. This is the basic principle of the ketogenic diet.

Excessive ketone bodies in diabetic patients can cause poisoning

When there are too many ketone bodies in the body, it is harmful to the body. Nutritionist Cheng Hanyu pointed out that when the content of ketone bodies in the blood reaches a certain level, it is called "ketosis". If a large amount of ketone bodies accumulate in the body in a pathological manner, lowering the pH value of the blood and thus affecting normal physiological functions, it is called "ketoacidosis."

Lin Mengyu added that the insulin of normal people can regulate the harm of ketone bodies to the body, so the chance of poisoning due to ketone bodies is not high; however, if you have blood sugar problems, whether you are a type 1 or type 2 diabetes patient, it is very dangerous to implement a ketogenic diet at this time because of lack of insulin or insufficient amount of insulin.

Because ketone bodies produced by fatty acid metabolism are a kind of strong acid substance, if they accumulate in the blood and are not regulated by insulin for cell use, the blood ketones in the body will rise, causing the blood pH value to drop rapidly, thus causing ketoacidosis. This situation is particularly common in diabetic patients. Common symptoms of ketoacidosis include fatigue, weakness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, decreased reaction time, rapid heartbeat, dehydration, etc. Severe cases may even lead to coma or death, so be careful.

Sugar-free diet and Akin diet are both ketogenic diets

Books and online articles often talk about the benefits of a sugar-free diet, such as weight loss. Is a sugar-free diet the same as a ketogenic diet? Cheng Hanyu answered, yes, the sugar-free diet is also known as the "ketogenic diet" or "Akin diet". This diet is designed to allow the body to achieve ketosis by limiting the intake of carbohydrates.

However, although the sugar-free diet forces the body to burn fat rather than carbohydrates, it does help to achieve weight loss. However, it is not recommended to use the ketogenic diet as a daily health care or weight loss method. This is because the ketogenic diet is not only difficult to implement, but also requires fat intake to be increased to 80-90%. In the long run, it may increase blood lipids and the risk of cancer.

Lin Mengyu added that a carbohydrate intake of less than 5% a day is equivalent to no more than 50 grams of sugar a day. It is known that a bowl of white rice contains up to 60 grams of sugar, and fruits and vegetables also contain sugar. It is indeed difficult for ordinary people to achieve such a calculated diet. Moreover, some people have no idea about their blood sugar status. If they have high blood sugar problems and insufficient insulin secretion, if too many ketone bodies accumulate in the body, it may accidentally cause severe ketoacidosis, which will not be worth the loss!

On the other hand, many studies have also pointed out that the ketogenic diet is high in fat. If used frequently, it may cause abdominal pain or diarrhea due to the high fat content. Common side effects include increased blood lipids, constipation or diarrhea, water-soluble vitamin deficiency, kidney stones, hyperuricemia, growth retardation, retinal neuropathy, excessive acidification of the body, and ketosis.

To be carried out under professional supervision

Huang Shuhui, a nutritionist at the Postal Hospital, said that because the ketogenic diet must use fat as a source of energy for the body, it is not recommended for ordinary people under normal circumstances, unless they are mental patients such as epilepsy, especially those who already have cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, diabetes and cancer. It must be done under the supervision of a physician and nutritionist. In addition, it is important to note that because the ketogenic diet is a low-protein diet, it is not suitable for cancer patients who are in dire need of tissue repair.

Lin Mengyu said that the ketogenic diet is commonly used to treat epilepsy and related mental illnesses because when the ketone bodies in the blood reach a certain level, specific neurotransmitters will be produced at the same time, which can alleviate the frequent attacks of epilepsy. It is currently mainly used in clinical practice to treat epilepsy patients aged 1 to 8 years old.

Cheng Hanyu added that it is more difficult for children under one year old to maintain ketosis and they are more prone to hypoglycemia. For older children, their eating preferences and habits are already deeply ingrained, so it is more difficult to strictly control their diet and avoid snacks. However, if family members and patients can reach a consensus and have the determination and perseverance to fight epilepsy together, with strong motivation, young or adult epilepsy patients can also achieve good results.

Lin Mengyu reminds that the ketogenic diet is somewhat dangerous, especially for people with poor blood sugar control or diabetes, because when the body's insulin secretion is insufficient, too many ketone bodies accumulate in the body, which may cause ketoacidosis, and in severe cases even face the threat of coma or death.

Cheng Hanyu also said that although normal people will not experience ketoacidosis, the fat intake in the ketogenic diet is as high as 80-90%, which is not only difficult to implement, but may also increase the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer and breast cancer in the long run. Huang Shuhui believes that before implementing a ketogenic diet, one must consult a professional doctor or nutritionist, and must implement it under the supervision of a doctor. Never rashly follow the recipes in the book. At the same time, it is recommended that a low-sugar or reduced-sugar diet is more appropriate.

Can ketone bodies be used as a source of energy for the body?

You are right, you can. Ketone bodies are metabolites produced by the decomposition of fatty acids, which usually occur in fasting or starving states. When there is not enough glucose in the body, the liver begins to break down fatty acids and produce ketone bodies, which are an energy source that can replace glucose.

[Source: Changchun Monthly Issue 406]