Pointing out that the ketogenic diet, which has been popular in recent years, carries risks for heart, kidney and bone health, Nutrition and Diet Specialist Büşra Nur Enez Baş said, “Although it can be applied under the control of a physician for a short time, the ketogenic diet is not a long-term and sustainable diet program.”
Kayseri Acıbadem Hospital Nutrition and Diet Specialist Büşra Nur Enez Baş gave important information about the ketogenic diet, which is frequently preferred today and applied with the principle of high fat, low carbohydrate. Stating that the ketogenic diet was used by a Parisian doctor couple in 1911 for epilepsy seizure control, Dietitian Enez Baş explained that it attracted the attention of the medical world after the Mayo Clinic revealed the effect of this diet on epilepsy attacks and then became widespread.
Dietitian Enez Baş said that the ketogenic diet contains sufficient protein for growth and development, minimal carbohydrates and fat that constitutes excess energy. “Ketogenic diet is usually started after the fasting period. Carbohydrate-containing liquids and foods are not given, blood sugar is monitored. Daily carbohydrate level should not exceed 50 grams in order to form ketone bodies in the blood with ketogenic diet. Since there are serious difficulties in starting and maintaining the diet, gradual restriction of carbohydrates facilitates compliance with the diet.”
“Excessive thirst can cause headache and abdominal pain”
Stating that the main purpose here is to provide fat loss by using ketone bodies instead of glucose in energy production, Dietitian Enez Baş said, “However, if it is not applied in a controlled manner, some side effects are encountered. The first thing that is encountered and noticed is usually bad breath. Excessive thirst, fluid loss, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache and even confusion are among the side effects that can be experienced. In addition to these, a diet program containing high protein and high fat carries risks for heart, kidney and bone health.”
Dietitian Enez Baş stated that restricting dairy products, cereal products such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, corn, rice, fruits and fruit juices, root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, legumes such as beans, chickpeas, lentils may cause calcium, vitamin and mineral deficiency. He also stated that studies have shown that this diet causes a decrease in both the diversity and number of intestinal microbiota.
Baş added that since fermented foods improve intestinal microbiota diversity and health, adding them to the diet by controlling ketones will help digestion.
“Decrease in appetite and increase in fat burning”
Speaking about the weight loss logic of the ketogenic diet, Dietitian Enez Baş said, “Firstly, due to the higher satiety effect of proteins, there is a decrease in appetite, the effect on appetite hormones and the appetite suppressing effect of ketone bodies. Secondly, there is a decrease in fat production and an increase in fat burning for the formation of ketone bodies. Thirdly, thanks to the thermal effect of proteins, it helps to control hunger and can provide weight loss by improving fat metabolism.”
Stating that new types of ketogenic diets that use products that mimic carbohydrate-rich foods can increase compliance with the diet, Dietitian Enez Baş said that a gradual transition to normal nutrition after ketogenic diet is recommended for body functions.
“It can be done between 3 weeks and a few months”
Dietitian Enez Baş, who recommends a short-term ketogenic diet, continued his words as follows:
“Although it can be applied under the control of a physician for a short time when it is part of a treatment, it is not a long-term and sustainable diet program. Since its long-term effect is not known, it is safe to do it for short periods of 3 weeks to a few months. Since the richness and diversity of bacteria in the gut microbiota is affected by the ketogenic diet, the Modified Atkins Diet and Low Glycemic Index Diet, which are more flexible and less restrictive, are more preferred for weight loss in both obese individuals and athletes.”
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