A ketogenic diet is usually very low in carbohydrates, carbohydrate-rich vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains, modest in protein, and high in fat. In a very comprehensive review of keto diets (Frontiers | Ketogenic Diets and Chronic Disease: Weighing the Benefits Against the Risks (frontiersin.org) the authors concluded that the only well-supported use for the keto approach is to reduce seizure frequency in those individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy.
For the rest of us, the keto diet is not a wise approach to eating.
For pregnant women a keto eating plan has been linked to a higher risk of neural tube defects, even for women who have adequate folic acid intakes.
For those with kidney disease, keto diets could hasten kidney failure.
For many people a keto diet can raise bad LDL cholesterol.
Restricting carbs skews the diet toward foods linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease – often the diseases that the keto eating plan claims to help.
While a keto eating plan can reduce weight short term, this eating plan isn’t more effective than other weight loss diets and could have long term negative health consequences.
