The keto diet, or the ketogenic diet, is one of the most followed weight-loss diets in today’s world. The keto diet is characterized by a low carbohydrate intake and a high fat and protein intake.
The health benefits of the keto diet plan are not only limited to weight loss, and there are multiple other health benefits one can get from following the keto formula of a low-carb high-fat diet. Multiple kinds of research have indicated that the keto diet can also work towards boosting brain health. It has the ability to maintain the brain’s health and is also able to keep it young and refreshed.
What is the Keto Diet?
You can lose weight and reach your fitness and health objectives by following a Keto diet. A keto diet emphasizes the consumption of meals high in fats and protein rather than those heavy in carbohydrates. This causes the body to break down fats instead of sugar or other types of glucose as a source of energy. Ketones are also produced, which have been shown to be beneficial to the body. A well-balanced keto diet can aid in blood sugar regulation and the prevention of other chronic illnesses.
Origins of Keto Diet
The keto diet was not created with the intention of assisting individuals in losing weight or even maintaining their health. It was a way of treating epileptic patients in the 1920s and 1930s. The ketogenic diet has also been shown to help in the treatment of cancer and even severe Alzheimer’s disease.
The Keto diet, like the Atkins diet, originally gained popularity in the 1980s when media tales about its health and weight-loss benefits began to spread. Diets like Atkins and Keto were promoted as the most efficient strategies to lose weight.
Keto Variants
There are a variety of keto diets to choose from. The Mediterranean Keto Diet is one of them. Mediterranean keto is a hybrid of two popular eating styles: keeping to conventional keto macro quantities while focusing on Mediterranean diet staples like fatty fish and olive oil. The quality of fats you consume is the most important factor. Non-processed foods and a high nutritional density are two Mediterranean characteristics.
Keto Diet’s Impact on Brain
After a person is on a keto diet for some time, the body goes into the state of ketosis. During this, ketones are produced. According to various studies, the ketones produced provide neuroprotective benefits to the brain. This includes strengthening and protection of brain cells and nerves.
A study conducted in 2012 showcased that children who were suffering from epilepsy were put on a keto diet, their overall alertness and cognitive functioning had improved as compared to the results of the traditional anti-epilepsy treatments. In some cases, when the traditional treatments were supplemented with keto diets, the efficiency rate of the medications and drugs had increased.
There have also been studies on the impact of keto formula on diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and traumatic brain injury. The research indicates that even with these types of diseases, the keto diet has provided some kind of benefit to the body.
The ketogenic diet is also thought to have neuro inhibitory effects. The accompanying change of the tricarboxylic acid cycle to enhance the production of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), resulting in neuronal hyperpolarization, is one part of this idea.
Research is still being conducted on the impact of the keto diet on the brain and how it benefits. It has been proposed by many bodies to conduct more research on the benefits of a keto diet for things such as traumatic brain injuries and the role of the keto diet with overall neuroprotection.
From the already existing data, it can be said that the keto diet truly helps boost the brain capabilities and helps against some chronic diseases.
Mental Health
Keto Diet can also help towards boosting mental health, which is an integral part of living a healthy life. The scientific research conducted on the keto diet suggests that the keto diet can help with depression and other mental health conditions in ways such as –
- Increase in GABA – The low-carb food diet can increase the circulation of GABA ( gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the body. GABA is an important neurotransmitter that is responsible for the management of stress, low mood, and anxiety. Lower gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in the body can lead to depression and bad moods.
- Improvement of Mitochondrial Function – People who suffer from depression and other kinds of mental health problems usually have low levels of ATPs (adenosine triphosphate) in their brains which are mainly produced by the mitochondria. A Keto diet may be able to boost ATP levels.
- Insulin Functions – Insulin manages your blood sugar levels of the body and is found to play an important role in managing moods and stress levels of the body. Following a keto diet might be able to maintain blood sugar levels which could also lead to better mental and physical health.
Other Benefits of Keto Diet
Other than the keto diet’s ability to maintain and boost mental health, there are many other ways in which the keto diet can be beneficial for you, such as –
- Cholesterol Levels – Consumption of a keto diet can help you maintain cholesterol levels of the body which can protect you against multiple diseases.
- Weight Loss – The weight loss and health advantages of the keto diet are the main reasons why individuals choose it. The Keto diet increases the body’s metabolism, which can help you lose weight.
- Cancer – According to clinical studies, the keto diet may help and enhance cancer therapies and drugs.
From all the research data and evidence, it is safe to say that this low-carb diet can be beneficial for the brain and can boost its ability and resistance against a certain type of disease. However, like with any type of diet, you must consult with your doctor or dietician before switching to a keto diet. As with everything, a keto diet has its drawbacks and side effects that can harm people who are already suffering from such kinds of diseases or issues.
