Benefits from a Ketogenic Diet


Psychological Benefits

  • Can Reduce Symptoms of Mental Disorders
  • Boosts Mood
  • Improve Energy Levels
  • Reduces Anxiety
  • Promotes Mental Focus
  • Increases Cognitive Function
  • Reduce the amount of seizers for an epilepsy patient

Physical Benefits

  • Aids in Weight Loss
  • Can Improve Cardiovascular Health and Help to Prevent Heart Disease
  • Promotes Anti-Inflammatory Effects in the Body
  • Helps to Regulate Sleep Patterns
  • Increases Energy Levels
  • Aids in Obesity Prevention
  • Can Increase Endurance Performance 

Research on the Ketogenic Diet

John Hopkins Medical Institute

 

Research conducted by Adam L. Hartman and Eileen P. G. Vining studied the effects of the ketogenic diet for those with epilepsy. The experiment involved 150 patients from John Hopkins Hospital. Efficacy of the diet was reported to be high in early patient studies. With over 3% of patients experiencing totally free seizures. About 31% of patients showed greater then a 90% decrease, and another 25% saw a reduction of 50-90% of seizures. 

 

The results of the study report that the ketogenic diet can be used as a therapy to help reduce the reoccurrence of seizers in patients of all ages.

Benefits of the Non Fasting Ketogenic Diet Compared With the Initial Fasting Ketogenic Diet

 

Researchers wanted to compare the benefits of the non-fasting form of the ketogenic diet where you aren’t fasting neither restricting your fluid intake. They gathered 41 children all with epilepsy to try going on the non fasting ketogenic diet. They compared their findings with 83 children, also with epilepsy, all on the initial fasting ketogenic diet. The results showed that 34.1% of the children who were on the non fasting ketogenic diet became seizure free. In comparison 34.9% of the children who were on the initial fasting ketogenic diet became seizure free. The data suggests that there is a positive correlation between the ketogenic diet and reduction of seizures but both variations of the diets show to be nearly the same in results.

Ketogenic diet as a metabolic therapy for mood disorders

 

Researchers decided to use the ketogenic diet, a diet that is a low carb diet, to see its effects on moods and if it would impact it in a positive way. There was no clinical research done to find a correlation between mood disorders and the ketogenic diet. Although the researchers took what they knew and formed hypothesis based on what they found on the benefits of the ketogenic diet. They stated that the preliminary data that they have found suggest that a ketogenic diet would be a great alternative in treating mood disorders.


Psychological Benefits

A lot of the research that was found on the correlation between the ketogenic diet and psychological health pointed in the direction of epilepsy. Epilepsy isn't a psychological disorder but it is a neurological disorder that causes individuals who have it to experience convulsions, loss of consciousness, etc. But it was really interesting to see how much a low carb diet impacted those who have this disorder and how much it positively impacts them and treats them.  You see, a lot nowadays, people trying to find alternative ways to treat themselves instead of running to pharmaceuticals and now there is an alternative way to help reduce convulsions in those with epilepsy, which is an amazing find,

Physical Benefits

Very Low Carbohydrate ketogenic diet vs Low Fat diet for long term weight loss

 

Researchers wanted to see which diet aided in providing a significant weight loss, lowering blood pressure, lowering levels of cholesterol, etc. They got two different diets and randomly assigned them to individuals. Half of those individuals were on the Very low carb ketogenic diet whereas the other half were on the low fat diet. The participants continued with the diet for twelve months to get the best results. The researchers took the starting weight, blood pressure, and HDL- cholesterol. The results showed that those who were on the very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet had a significant reduction in their weight as well as lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressures, in comparison to the low fat diet. This data shows and confirms that the ketogenic diet has a lot more physical benefits than the low fat diet.