Women’s Day: Keto Diet For Women: Is It Healthy? Can Keto Diet Benefit Cancer Patients?

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The list of healthy diets is (almost) endless. Studies claim that this past decade witnessed a major awakening of health obsession in which the majority of people began to adopt healthy lifestyles and habits.

And one of the most popular diets - whether you love it or hate it, is - the keto diet.

What Is The Keto Diet?

The ketogenic diet (or keto diet, for short) is a low-carb, high-fat diet which can help improve one's health. Ketogenic diets, studies assert, have benefits against diabetes, cancer, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease [1].

During a keto diet, your body is able to burn fat for energy more efficiently because it drastically reduces carbohydrate intake and replaces it with fat. As a result, fat is turned into ketones in the liver, which provide brain energy.

Additionally, it reduces blood sugar and insulin levels. Different versions of the keto diet are available, including [2];

• Standard ketogenic diet (SKD), a very low-carb, moderate-protein and high-fat diet.
• Cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD) involves periods of higher-carb refeeds, such as 5 ketogenic days followed by 2 high-carb days.
• Targeted ketogenic diet (TKD) allows you to add carbs around workouts.
• High-protein ketogenic diet, similar to a standard ketogenic diet, includes more protein.

How Does The Keto Diet Work?

In the keto diet, your body uses ketone bodies instead of sugar (glucose), a fuel that your liver produces from fat stored in your body, instead of sugar (glucose) that comes from carbohydrates.

In spite of its ability to help with certain medical conditions including epilepsy and Alzheimer's, numerous studies have linked the keto diet to adverse health effects if followed long-term [3].

When a person follows a keto diet, the body uses fat as energy instead of carbohydrates. Eventually, the liver will run out of fat, even the small amount it stores, and your body will be depleted of it.

So, is it beneficial for women? Does the keto diet have any specific benefits for women? Let's take a look.

Keto Diet For Women

Ketogenic diets have shown promise when used clinically to improve certain aspects of health.

In addition to reducing body fat and improving blood sugar, it can also be used as a complementary treatment for certain cancers.

Here are the specific benefits of the keto diet for women:

Weight loss:

there is some evidence that the keto diet may be a helpful tool for promoting weight loss in females. It has been shown that following a keto diet can help reduce weight by increasing fat-burning, reducing calorie intake, and decreasing hunger-promoting hormones such as insulin, all of which may aid in weight loss [4].

Note: Although keto diets have been shown to enhance fat loss in the short term, there are currently few studies investigating how the long-term effects of keto diets on weight loss will be.

Blood sugar control:

Women with high blood sugar, including those with type 2 diabetes, tend to favour the ketogenic diet, which generally limits carb consumption to less than 10% of total calories [5].

A very low-calorie keto diet is associated with significantly greater weight loss and reductions in fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) than a standard low-calorie diet.

Nevertheless, there are currently no studies that evaluate long-term adherence, safety, and efficacy of the ketogenic diet on blood sugar levels.

Can The Keto Diet Aid In Cancer Treatment For Women?

Combined with traditional cancer treatments, the ketogenic diet can be beneficial for certain types of cancer.

According to one study, ketogenic diets have been found to increase blood levels of ketone bodies and lower insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), a hormone linked to cancer growth.

Furthermore, research shows that the ketogenic diet may boost energy levels, decrease food cravings, and improve physical function [6].

As a treatment alongside chemotherapy for other cancers that affect women, including glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer, the ketogenic diet has shown promise.

Are There Any Risks Associated With The Keto Diet For Women?

There are a number of concerns related to the potential negative effects of a low-carb, high-fat diet on heart health.

Some evidence indicates that the ketogenic diet may increase certain heart disease risk factors, including LDL (bad) cholesterol [7].

Depending on the composition of the diet, ketogenic diets may have varying effects on heart health risk factors.

Who Should Avoid the Keto Diet?

For many people, the ketogenic diet is not appropriate due to its restrictive macro-nutrient ratio and difficulty maintaining it.

For example, it's not recommended for the following people [8]:

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Those with alcohol or drug use disorders
• People with type 1 diabetes, pancreatitis, liver/kidney failure
• Individuals who are unable to maintain an adequate nutritional intake

On A Final Note...

Keto diets may promote weight loss and improve blood sugar regulation in women. Additionally, they may be beneficial when used alongside cancer therapy. Before starting any significant dietary changes, you should consider the positives and negatives of the keto diet, along with its suitability based on your current health.

The keto diet is highly restrictive and its effectiveness depends on maintaining ketosis, so it should only be followed by qualified health professionals.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.