It is generally accepted, that any diet below 130-150 grams of carbohydrates is regarded as “low-carb”. Ketogenic diets are a subset of low-carb diets that induce a metabolic state known as ketosis by restricting carbs to 20-50 grams a day.
Based on studies, ketosis is a beneficial condition for treating cancer. The idea is that when you restrict carbohydrate intake below 20-50 grams, your body runs out of glycogen stores and starts producing ketone bodies. Normal cells can use ketones for energy, but cancer cells cannot and they literally starve to death. Keep in mind that it’s still early days to understand how the ketogenic diet may help in treating various types of cancer and more studies need to be done.
Additionally, ketogenic diets have been used for treating: neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, autism, depression, migraines, epilepsy. Also they have shown beneficial effects in chronic fatigue syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS) and more.
Low-carb diets have many proven health benefits. However, keep in mind that “low-carb” does not necessarily mean healthy. Food quality and cooking methods are as important as the amount of carbs you eat. It is recommended you first consult your diet plan with your doctor, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or having any health issues such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, etc., as there may need to be an adjustment to the medication you are taking.
