Ketogenic diet is good for women, says nutritionist

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-carb, low-carbohydrate diet that was originally developed to treat epilepsy in children by simulating starvation.

Instead of using sugar-from sugar and carbohydrates in food-as energy, the ketogenic diet forces the body to use ketones made from dietary fat by the liver.

Critics say the diet is high in fat, low in fiber, high in cholesterol, bad for gut health, and not suitable for women, especially before menopause, who need carbohydrates to make hormones such as progesterone.

But nutritionist Moira News said Newsweek that he does not agree. Having been on the ketogenic diet for over five years, she said it is perfectly suited for women.

“As someone who had chronic fatigue, chronic fatigue and many mental health issues, the ketogenic diet has effectively strengthened my brain and body so that all of my issues have gone away. life always be there,” he said.

“Even though I started feeling much better by going low-carb and developing stress management techniques, I got 100 percent of my energy and my mind back when I went ketogenic .

Now, I could hike and run my bike, and I got rid of all the fog in my brain.

One of the benefits of the ketogenic diet is that it eliminates the body’s reliance on sugar for energy, so some people find they have more sustained energy—or, in Newiss’s case, more energy in general.

He says: “I quit because I wanted to feel like a teenager again.” “I wanted to have unlimited energy and feel full of energy.”

He said that, in ketosis – when the liver produces ketones from fat for energy – the mitochondria in the cells can efficiently make adenosine triphosphate (ATP): the fuel that the body works on, made from glucose or ketones.

Not everyone agrees that this process is more efficient with ketones than with sugar, but Newiss said it is more effective in the brain.

Newiss also said that the ketogenic diet was more anti-inflammatory than eating a sugary diet, and produced more energy—all of which contradicted other nutritionists.

Another source of controversy in the world of nutrition, addressed by Newiss, is the adequacy of the ketogenic diet for women.

Some nutritionists, especially those dealing with women’s health, warn that certain hormones such as progesterone—the most important sex hormone, along with estrogen—are carbohydrate-dependent. .

“I think there are a lot of misunderstandings and myths out there about the ketogenic diet,” Newiss said. “One theory is that it will disrupt women’s hormones, and that to me is exactly what it is: a myth.”

He explained that research was still ongoing in that area, but some evidence on the female thyroid—which produces hormones—suggested that a ketogenic diet could reduce the need for hormones and increase thyroid sensitivity, which means the body adapts to the ketogenic diet. good way.

“There are also other myths, such as the ketogenic diet affecting the gut microbiome,” Newiss said. “The gut microbiome is very complex, and we are yet to discover and understand how all the different microbes work together and interact with the gut and our immune system.

“Yes, the ketogenic diet will change the gut microbiome, but it changes all the time. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.”

Newiss said that many of the studies that showed negative effects associated with the ketogenic diet were flawed, because they were done by feeding mice a lot of low-quality, omega-6 fatty acids, which believed to be inflammatory.

“Many studies using this type of ketogenic diet find that it promotes inflammation, no wonder!” he said. “If you eat natural fats, then inflammation decreases.”

Newiss recommended following a ketogenic diet with fats from eggs, avocados, coconut, meat, dairy, nuts, seeds, fish and olive oil; protein from meat, milk and beans; and less than 50 grams of carbohydrates, from low-starch vegetables, such as kale, and low-sugar fruits, such as berries.

He said that many thought that the ketogenic diet was low in nutrients, but this was only true if one ate poorly; he said if you follow it properly, it can provide enough nutrients.

Saturated fat is another important talking point when it comes to reasons to avoid the ketogenic diet, but Newiss said that the evidence showed: “there is no scientific basis for demonizing obesity as a cause of heart disease.”

This is an ongoing nutritional debate; Does saturated fat cause heart disease, or are sugar and processed foods to blame?

“Even today, many people continue to think that fat is the problem, despite mounting evidence that sugar and carbohydrates are the likely culprits,” he said. Newiss.

“The concern about saturated fat was related to cholesterol and the heart health theory that cholesterol from saturated fat caused heart disease.

“Increased total cholesterol is not associated with increased risk of heart disease. Not only that, but cholesterol is also very important for your health, especially as you age. , and high cholesterol is associated with longevity.”

However, Newiss said that the ketogenic diet wasn’t right for everyone, and he didn’t recommend it for all of his nutrition clients.

“I always advise women to seek professional help before starting a ketogenic diet if they are taking medication,” she said.

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