The keto moment

Keto is more than just a diet. It is a cultural identity.

The Keto diet changes how adherents think about medicine and nutrition. With the fake news that dominates the news cycle, it's not surprising that keto went viral. It's anti-establishment.

A concern of the Keto diet is that it may not be safe for the cardiovascular system since it can drive up cholesterol levels.
Other health professionals believe the high-fat regimen will damage people's kidneys, arteries, and brains. Side effects from "keto flu" include constipation, cardiac arrhythmias, and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

But, a low-carb diet could be a nutritional treatment option for some patients with diabetes. It also helps people lose weight and get off their medications.

The body can only store glucose to last a few days. If we don't eat carbs, the body finds other ways to fuel the body, like ketogenesis. In ketogenesis:

• The liver starts to break down fat from food and our body reserves. The useful energy source is called ketone bodies and can replace glucose as fuel when there's a glucose shortage.
• Once ketogenesis starts, the ketone levels rise.
• The body burns fat instead of the usual glucose.

One way to get in ketosis is through fasting - when you stop eating altogether for an extended period. The body will start to burn fat for fuel and decrease its use of glucose.

Another way is to make your body think it's fasting by eating only about 20 to 50 grams of total carbs per day. (Equivalent to a slice of bread or a small potato.)

People on the Keto diet aim for:

• Five percent of the calories from carbohydrates from berries and salad.
• Fifteen percent from proteins like salmon and sardines.
• Eighty percent from fats including coconut oil and avocado.

Keto levels can be measured with blood tests, breathalyzers, and urine strips.

• Keto science is explored for the potential benefits of the diet as part of cancer therapy.
• Another new area of research is using keto to prevent and reduce the severity of flu.
• Studies show that there is a large reduction in seizures in people with epilepsy when following a ketogenic diet.
• Carbohydrate restriction helps control metabolic syndrome, including high blood sugar.
• An ultra-low-carb diet could have a role in treating neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.