Diabetes is a common condition that’s been diagnosed in about five million people across the UK. The condition might be caused by eating certain foods, or by not doing enough exercise. With that in mind, researchers and leading health experts recommend following one of the best diets to help you not only lose weight, but also to lower your blood sugars. What is it?
In a study published in EJCN, a review of the therapeutic use of a ketogenic diet was analysed.
Very-low-carbohydrate diets or ketogenic diets have been in use since the 1920s as a therapy for epilepsy and can, in some cases, completely remove the need for medication, noted the study.
It continued: “Recent work over the last decade or so has provided evidence of the therapeutic potential of ketogenic diets in many pathological conditions, such as diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, acne, neurological diseases, cancer and the amelioration of respiratory and cardiovascular disease risk factors.
“Insulin activates key enzymes in pathways, which store energy derived from carbohydrates, and when there is an absence or scarcity of dietary carbohydrates the resulting reduced insulin level leads to a reduction in lipogenesis and fat accumulation.
“After a few days of fasting, or of drastically reduced carbohydrate consumption, glucose reserves become insufficient.
“There is no doubt that there is strong supportive evidence that the use of ketogenic diets in weight-loss therapy is effective.”
Although ketosis is well known for its ability to combat obesity, it has also been linked to increased energy and exercise efficiency.
Another research on mice found that ketosis enhances cognitive performance by improving large-scale neural network function.
Other health benefits of a keto diet include reducing the risk of certain cancers, improving heart health, protecting brain function and potentially reducing the risk of seizures.