Keto diet has its perks. Weight loss, better control of blood pressure and sugar levels, lowering of cholesterol, and so on. As a means of therapy, the keto diet is not new. It was first adopted to control seizure activity in children who have epilepsy.
The dietary ratio of macromolecules in a keto diet is opposite to what USDA suggests. A fat-laden, low protein, and almost negligible carbohydrates are not the ideal combinations for nutrition experts. Yet, the keto diet is known to improve many health conditions. But is the keto diet safe for heart patients? There are many arguments for and against the subject topic. Read on to get a detailed insight.
The deal about the keto diet
A keto diet regime accommodates a hefty 75% of fats, about 20-25% of proteins, and only about 5% of carbohydrates. Despite not being an ideal distribution ratio of macromolecules, the nutrients deliver significant health benefits. Here is how.
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy for all the metabolic activities in our body. The extra caloric intake from carbohydrates gets deposited in our body as fat. The fat stores get mobilized when called upon in situations like fasting and starvation.
Keto diet provides fats as the primary source of energy. In days after adopting the keto dietary style, our body switches from carbohydrates to fats as the energy refurbishing source. As a result, ketones are produced, and the metabolic system starts working in ketosis mode.
The process rakes up the fat from its storage sites, thereby causing weight loss. Research says that the slightest weight loss (5-10%) brings improvement in blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
But is the keto diet safe for patients suffering from cardiovascular ailments? Is there are difference of opinion among health experts?
Keto diet may come with its benefits, but it is restrictive. People find it challenging to maintain it for the long-term. Keto diet makes allowance for saturated fats and animal products. A restrictive diet like keto may prompt people to overconsume these foods, which have a bad reputation for increasing heart disease risk.
Despite touting short-term benefits, the diet lacks scientific support for its long-term upshots. There are no long-term randomized controlled studies to back its long-standing health benefits. Health experts call the keto diet a quick fix because once you are off it, the weight loss comes back, and some people may gain more than their actual weight. Research says that randomly changing weight and cholesterol due to irregular dieting patterns increase the risk of heart attack or stroke by 40%.
Also, the diet causes blood sugar to drop. For someone who is diabetic or prone to low sugar levels, a vigilant calorie count is important. Also, the keto diet causes a rise in the bad cholesterol (LDL) levels initially.
On the other hand, the keto diet is shown to improve insulin sensitivity in diabetic patients. Studies show that switching to a keto diet reverses the course of type II diabetes. Some other studies concluded the positive effects of the keto diet regarding raising the good cholesterol (HDL) levels. Diabetes, if not controlled, is a complex disease that almost always involves multiple organ systems in the body.
Heart disease most often arises as a result of inflammation in the vascular system. High blood sugar levels are one of the causes of inflammation, and the keto diet helps bring down the sugar levels. So managing high blood sugar levels and cutting back some figures on the weighing scale contributes to a healthy heart.
There are conflicting arguments about the keto diet being beneficial. The only reason is the lack of evidence for its long-term effects. However, experts believe that the keto diet can act to kick-start a sustainable healthy lifestyle. A short period of ketosis with lasting lifestyle changes can undoubtedly contribute to better heart health.
Modifications for a heart-healthy keto diet
There is not much to do when opting for a keto diet as regards heart health. The only thing to remember is that not all fats are created equal. The key is to make smart choices when selecting a fat portion of the keto diet.
Saturated and trans-fats are out of the question if you are switching to keto. Some of the good fat choices include polyunsaturated and mono-saturated fat items.
As mentioned earlier, keto results in a surge in harmful cholesterol levels initially, which comes to normal levels within weeks. The prolonged rise in toxic cholesterol levels for months or years is dangerous. So continuing with heart-healthy fat choices while doing keto keeps the bad LDL levels under check.
According to Neel Chokshi, MD, MBA, an associate professor of clinical medicine and medical director of the Sports Cardiology and Fitness Program at Penn Medicine, consuming complex carbohydrates in a keto diet is a smart choice. Eating low-carb fresh fruits and vegetables deliver a rich portion of fiber, which balance the satiety levels when consumed with high fat and proteins.
Studies show that plant-based fats and proteins and low-carb veggies as broccoli, kale, spinach, celery, etc., had a lower risk of heart disease than those who relied on meat for proteins and fats.
Research found that individuals who consumed a low-carb, high-fat diet mainly from animal sources had a 23% high risk of early death than those who consumed plant-based fat sources like avocado, nuts, and seeds. The vegetarians had a 20% low risk of mortality and 23% lower disease mortality.
The evidence that a modified keto diet helps improve heart health is provided by a study published in the Cardiovascular Diabetology 2018 issue. Researchers followed two groups for a year. One received nutritional recommendations and guidelines regarding the keto diet, while the other received standard care. At the end of the observation period, the standard care group had no significant changes. In contrast, the one on ketosis had decreased triglycerides, improved lipid profile, stable blood pressure, and low inflammatory markers.
Another point of concern regarding the keto diet for heart patients is to rule out some individuals’ genetic predisposition to high cholesterol. The Keto diet is not for such individuals.
The kidneys flush out excess proteins, and the liver metabolizes high-fat content. So people with kidney and liver dysfunction should also refrain from adopting the keto diet.
The bottom-line
Is the keto diet safe for heart patients? The answer is yes, but conditionally. Always consult your heart physician who has a sound knowledge of the keto diet before changing your dietary preferences. Heart disease is a complex interplay of many factors, of which diet is one.
So it is not solely about eating more fats or fewer carbs or treating or preventing heart disease. The recommendations to start the ketogenic diet for heart patients must be made carefully. This diet may not suit every heart patient because of its limiting nature. Only those who are particular, disciplined, and motivated should be put on this diet. The modifications in the selection of macromolecules should make the keto diet a reasonable approach to manage heart conditions.
