Looking to lose weight? You may have had people suggest trying the popular keto diet. However, a new study published in Science Advances warns of the long-term risks of maintaining the low-carb plan.
What Is the Keto Diet?
“The keto diet aims to force your body into using a different type of fuel,” according to Harvard Health. “Instead of relying on sugar (glucose) that comes from carbohydrates (such as grains, legumes, vegetables, and fruits), the keto diet relies on ketone bodies, a type of fuel that the liver produces from stored fat.”
Dieters following the keto plan eat high amounts of fat at each meal — think nuts, avocados, oils, butter, etc. They largely avoid fruits, due to their high levels of carbs. Grains, starchy vegetables and processed foods are also restricted.
What Are the Risks of the Keto Diet?
According to Molly Gallop, a physiologist at Earlham College and one of the researchers in the new study, “I think a lot of people look at a ketogenic diet and think, ‘I’ll lose weight, I’ll be healthier.'”
However, the study — which was conducted in mice to determine the long-term effects of the diet — found that after extended maintenance of the keto diet, health problems such as glucose intolerance and signs of liver and cardiovascular disease were discovered.
“It’s a cautionary tale,” physiologist Amandine Chaix said. “This is not a magical dietary approach.”
Harvard Health explained that the keto diet has been used to help reduce the frequency of epileptic seizures in children, but they encourage dieters to only use the diet plan for short-term changes.
“We don’t recommend that the general public use ketogenic diets without medical supervision,” says Johns Hopkins neurologist Tanya McDonald.
