Effects of ketogenic diet on cholesterol
We know that the ketogenic diet has been proven to help with some chronic illnesses like epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease. Recent studies have also shown that it may have some positive effects on cholesterol levels.
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet that is very popular among people who are trying to lose weight. It has been shown to have many health benefits for people with diabetes, epilepsy, and other conditions.
How the keto diet works ?
The keto diet focuses on lowering the body’s carbohydrate intake to force the body into a state where it produces ketones in the liver. This liquid is used as an energy source instead of glucose. The goal of this type of diet is to teach your body how to burn fat as an energy source by limiting carbs and increasing fats.
Why cholesterol Is important?
The body needs cholesterol to function properly. It is a type of fat or lipid and it helps keep cells and nerves healthy.
The main reason that cholesterol is good for you is that it helps your body process some types of fat. It also helps make hormones, which are necessary for the body to grow and stay healthy.
Additionally, cholesterol may help protect your heart from disease by keeping blood cells from becoming sticky or clumping together.
Effects of keto diet on cholesterol
Now we will discuss the effects of the keto diet on cholesterol
Body fat can be divided into two categories
-triglycerides
-cholesterol
What are triglycerides?
Triglycerides are fatty acid molecules that are naturally present in the human body and serve a variety of functions. The main function is to store energy for use by the body. Triglycerides can be broken down for energy when needed or converted into other types of fats.
Too many triglycerides in the body are not good. Your blood contains triglycerides, which are types of fats. They can be either saturated or unsaturated. High levels of triglycerides in the blood can increase the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and other life-threatening diseases.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy lipid produced in the liver that plays many important roles in keeping us healthy. It is used to make hormones like estrogen and testosterone, it helps maintain the integrity of cell membranes, and it aids in absorbing certain vitamins. Cholesterol is produced in the liver.
Where does cholesterol come from?
The body (liver) produces around 75% of cholesterol inside it while the remaining 25% are usually consumed from outside in the form of food.
How does cholesterol work?
Cholesterol is found in all cells of the body. It is not an inert substance like most fats. Cholesterol is essential for bodily function. People who do not have enough cholesterol may have a higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
There are two kinds of lipoprotein that help transport cholesterol around the body.
- HDL
- LDL
HDL and LDL molecules are important because they transport cholesterol and other fats in the blood. They also play a role in heart disease, stroke, and other conditions.
What is HDL and how does it work?
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the major carrier of cholesterol in the blood, and it has two main functions. One of them is to collect cholesterol from around the body and deliver it back to the liver where it can be recycled or destroyed. This process prevents complications like cholesterol accumulation and clogging arteries.
Is HDL good for health?
Many new studies show that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) may be linked to an anti-inflammatory effect.
More research needs to be done on HDL cholesterol.
But overall, the consensus among scientists is that LDL cholesterol is healthy for the body. LDL cholesterol is a good thing because it helps to remove bad cholesterol from the blood, and can even help to lower blood pressure.
What is LDL?
LDL is the “bad” cholesterol, which can build up in the walls of arteries. Higher levels of LDL are associated with heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
How does LDL work?
LDL cholesterol is a type of cholesterol that can lead to clogged arteries and cardiovascular disease. This is because LDL molecules move slowly through the bloodstream and are vulnerable to oxidizing agents known as free radicals once oxidized.
LDL cholesterol particles can enter the wall of the artery and get lodged there, clogging your arteries. This can lead to cardiovascular function problems.
In an inflammatory response, white blood cells called macrophages rush to eat up the LDL, causing further blockage.
The presence of high LDL levels is considered to be unhealthy by most people.
Keto diet and cholesterol
According to a recent meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Nutrition research was carried out on people following low-carb ketogenic diets and low-fat diets. The results were astounding after a year. With the keto diet, HDL levels increased by twice as much as those on a low-fat diet.
Other studies show reduced LDL particle concentration, size of LDL particles, and quantity of LDL particles when a low carbohydrate diet is followed.
Several studies have shown that the lauric acid found in coconut oil and the stearic acid found in animal fats can elevate HDL cholesterol.
In the keto diet, these fats are so abundant that the total-HDL cholesterol ratios are improved drastically.
Additionally, replacing carbs with fat has been shown to improve blood sugar levels and triglycerides.
Hence, it is very likely that you will benefit from restricting carbohydrates and eating a primarily fat-based diet, such as fish nuts, avocado, and olive oil, providing you with the majority of your calories.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can say that many studies are still going on and we are yet to give any verdict. But most of the data that we have shown proved significant improvement in cholesterol when we follow a low-carb, high-fat diet.
Especially when we follow a vegetarian keto diet, it shows more positive overall effects on cholesterol. A plant-based low-carb diet has proved to lower bad cholesterol (bad LDL) most effectively.
Find out more about benefits and risks of keto diet
If you already have high cholesterol and are taking medication. Please consider talking to your doctor before starting any diet
