The ketogenic diet can help fight cancer. The ketogenic diet promotes the treatment of metastatic cancer

A little over a year ago, in July 2016, we wrote about Pablo Kelly, a young Englishman who in September 2014 was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common primary brain tumor and today it is practically not amenable to treatment. Removal of the tumor, radiation and chemotherapy can lead to an increase in life after diagnosis, up to 12-15 months, but no more. The average life expectancy in the absence of treatment is 3 months after diagnosis.

Doctors considered Pablo's tumor inoperable and offered him only a course of chemotherapy, which could slightly increase the length of his remaining life, but significantly worsen his health in the remaining months of his life. Pablo refused chemotherapy and instead chose a metabolic approach to treatment, which consisted of a strict keto diet with virtually no carbohydrates, calorie restriction, intermittent fasting, and special nutritional supplements. In other words, his method was to freeze the cells of the malignant tumor by depriving them of glucose. Even then, in 2016, Pablo's two-year survival without traditional treatment seemed absolutely amazing, because it significantly exceeded all realistic forecasts. However, regular scans showed that the tumor was under control and not growing in size, and that Pablo himself could live a full life.

We continued to periodically follow the life of Pablo Kelly through him and were glad that the method continues to work and refute Pablo's verdict. Here, for example, are photographs of Pablo playing tennis three years after receiving a dire diagnosis.

In early March this year, doctors at Darriford Hospital performed surgery on Pablo to remove his glioblastoma. Despite the fact that the tumor was previously recognized as inoperable, doctors were able to remove it using an innovative method - i.e. the operation was performed under local anesthesia. This technique allows you to remove malignant formations located near or with the participation of functionally important areas of the brain. A conscious craniotomy makes it possible to test areas before removing a tumor, and continuously check the function of the brain, which significantly reduces the risk of complications from surgery.

It was not possible to remove the tumor completely - according to the neurosurgeon who performed the operation, they had to leave about 10% of the tumor. Usually, such news does not bode well for patients - glioblastoma multiforme is known for its high aggressiveness and even one surviving cell can lead to a relapse. With conventional treatment, surgery can prolong life by several months to a year, but does not lead to long-term survival. Tumor re-growth usually begins in the coming months or even weeks after surgery.

But Pablo's case is special. Using exclusively metabolic methods of treatment, he was able to stop the growth of the tumor long before the operation. And now, six months after the operation, Pablo received the best of all possible news from his attending physician:

"I went through two scans after the operation" - he - "and when I met with my oncologist, she informed me that there are no visible signs of a tumor, although there is clearly a cavity in its place."

Does this mean a complete cure for Pablo? It is impossible to say now. Because Glioblastoma cells are known for their vitality and the ability to reproduce quickly, he plans to continue to follow an extremely strict keto diet and take a course of nutritional supplements that provide him with essential micronutrients and vitamins. In addition, he still suffers from uncontrolled muscle cramps - possibly complications from surgery. But what he has already managed to achieve is a real medical miracle and Pablo is optimistic about life. He and his girlfriend Rebecca are getting married and are planning to have children.

Of course, Pablo's story cannot be interpreted as proof that the keto diet is a unique panacea for cancer. It is also worth noting that this method is not yet supported by any of the official medical organizations. Nevertheless, the metabolic approach to cancer treatment is now a very promising scientific direction and a number of serious scientific studies are being carried out on this topic.

He really wants to hope that Pablo will continue to amaze the world and that he still has many years of a full and happy life ahead of him. And most importantly, his case will turn out to be not a single anomaly, but an important stage in the fight against cancer.

Disclaimer: This article is about an individual case and does not contain universal recommendations. We urge our readers not to take this publication as a call to abandon traditional cancer treatments. Most scientists working on this topic consider the metabolic approach to be an effective addition to known therapies, not a replacement.

A low-carb, fat-rich diet is nearly more effective than chemotherapy in reducing cancer, says Dr. Thomas Seyfried, a Boston College professor and leading cancer specialist. According to him, the only reason doctors do not prescribe such food to their dying patients is that it is economically disadvantageous. After all, cancer is a huge business that feeds hundreds of doctors, nurses and, of course, pharmaceutical companies.

Thomas Seyfried devoted decades to the study of cancer and came to the conclusion that its appearance is due not so much to genetic reasons as to metabolic disorders. That is why it is much easier and more effective to adjust the nutritional system than to stuff the patient with toxic substances.

Seyfried is not the first to hold this opinion. In the controversial 1996 book Questioning Chemotherapy, its author, Dr. Ralph Moss, clearly states that chemotherapy and radiation are a waste of money. These procedures only empty the wallets of patients and make their lives a nightmare. It is not surprising that Dr. Moss lost his medical practice for such statements.

Radiation, a popular treatment for cancer, kills not only deadly but also healthy cells, causing a "rebound effect": in many cancer patients, after several years of remission, cancer recurs in another organ.

A ketogenic diet helps slow this process down and also prevents the tumors themselves from growing. According to Dr. Seyfried, eating LCHF can cure almost any form of cancer. It sounds impossible, but in practice it is easy to explain. Healthy body cells can feed directly on fat, glucose, and ketones, while cancer cells need glucose. By drastically reducing the carbohydrate content of the diet, we are effectively depriving cancer cells necessary nutrition and they stop growing.

Oddly enough, this fact has been known to scientists for over 80 years. In 1931, the German physiologist Otto Warburg received the Nobel Prize when he discovered that cancer cells have defective mitochondria and are dependent on sugar. Today, dozens of studies support this finding.

The LCHF diet has established itself as an excellent remedy for obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. Perhaps in the future, such nutrition will become the gold standard for cancer patients. Some experiments are already underway. In 2012, 10 cancer patients at Montefiore Medical Center in New York were asked to follow a ketogenic diet for 28 years. Six of them showed significant improvement: their tumors shrank, and partial remission occurred.

There are also more illustrative examples. Seyfried cites Joe Mancaruso, a 56-year-old cancer patient from Texas who gave up chemotherapy and was able to shrink a tumor in his lungs with a ketogenic diet. And Elaina Cantin in The Cantin Ketogenic Diet talks about how she beat breast cancer by eating LCHF.

According to Dr. Seyfried, the keto diet can be very effectively combined with chemotherapy and even radiation if desired. No one is suggesting that cancer patients abandon formal treatment, but simple dietary adjustments will dramatically improve their lives.

This article is about personal experience, it should in no way be taken as an example, without opinion and medical supervision, and each case is different.

I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in November 2015 after a prostate biopsy ordered by my doctor after an abnormal rise in PSA.

The positive side of this bad discovery was that my illness was in its infancy and all the proposed treatment procedures were appropriate, and that there was no urgency, I had time to think about what choice to make, what the urologist says. ...

Overwhelmed by this diagnosis, I seriously considered this issue and read many books written by doctors and patients. Everything I've read has taken me back to the disastrous consequences of the treatments available today, turning everything off to become incontinent, impotent and all with no guarantee of complete cure.

But these books, which I will provide below, have helped me a lot to regain my self-confidence and find the resources to be the actor of my destiny regardless of the outcome of my illness ...

So in the course of my research and readings, I began my personal treatment, the ketogenic diet according to the wonderful book by Prof. Kemmerer - Dr. Schlatterrar - Dr. Knoll, Vitamin D (1000 mcg daily intake), Turmeric + Pepper + Omega-3 Oil, and also taking foods known for their positive effects on cancer, such as wild blueberries, young alternative weekly, etc. ... I am also followed by a doctor in Chinese energy to rebalance everything that is not ...

Then, when I was researching, I heard about Dr. Schwartz and could start Metabloc and contact him through his association.

I was immediately surprised by his excellent availability, his gracious listening, and also his humility, which manifests itself in his discretion in the face of illness. I immediately put my trust in him and his scientific approach to cancer.

So I decided to continue with the treatment he advocated.

I chose to actively monitor my illness against the advice of the urologist who performed the biopsy (limited according to French protocol, but perfectly acceptable according to Anglo-Saxon criteria!)

Thus, PSA levels are recorded every three months from the date of the biopsy:

11/23/2015 6.40 (biopsy) +0.10

04.04.2016 5.38 -1.02

19.07.2016 5.07 -0.31

27.10.2016 4.75 -0.32

On January 4th, I underwent an ultrasound examination prescribed by my doctor, which turned out to be negative in search of the lesion discovered in October 2015.

The prostate has shrunk from 28cc to 21cc.

I do not change anything and continue to treat Dr. Schwartz and thank him very much for his work as a researcher and a person in the service of humanity.

It is very important that the state authorities provide him with the necessary funds to continue his research.

Dr. Laurent Schwartz Protocol.
On the topic of nutritional supplements on a ketogenic diet for cancer.
I have personal confidence in this source, supported by data from other sources, as well as written and video testimonies of the patients of this doctor.
New, more successful treatments with minimal side effects
Briefly, L. Schwartz is trying to replace the classical treatment, which seeks to destroy cancer cells (at the risk of destroying healthy cells as well), by starving cancer cells, depriving them of glucose and not affecting healthy ones.

Among these methods, medications and supplements, the following are used:
metformine

Epidemiological studies indicate that diabetics taking metformine had a better cancer prognosis.

- Ketogenic diet: a very low in sugar but rich in fat diet. (when tumor cells cannot use glucose as fuel, healthy cells target fatty acids)

- Coenzyme Q10 to improve mitochondrial function, antioxidant,
It has a positive effect on the ability of the immune system to suppress cancer.
From a translator. The dose is unknown to me, please comment on the dose.
- Alpha lipolic acid is another component of energy metabolism in mitochondria. Acts on glucose metabolism. Used in Germany for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.

A special combination of ALA and hydroxicitrate (metabolic treatment) has been shown to be as effective as anticancer chemotherapy, but with far fewer side effects.

- Hydroxycitrate (HCA): Food supplement used for weight loss (where not useful) is a mitachondrial enzyme that interferes with lipid metabolism. It is necessary for the cellular unification of the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Interferes with the synthesis of cell membranes and hence the growth of the tumor. In cancer treatment, this molecule is used in association with ALA.

- Acétyl-L-carnitine (ALC)
From the translator - approximately 500 mg three times a day after meals.
(According to the keto doctor of our group). Please comment on the dose.
Changes in mitochondria appear with age, namely a change in the mitochondrial membrane, a decrease in the levels of cardiolipin, coenzyme Q10, and carnitine concentration. ALC restores mitochondrial membrane potential and cardiolipin levels. ALC facilitates the delivery of fatty acids to mitochondria and increases overall cellular respiration. ALC is essential for cellular repair in the brain, heart, liver, and peripheral nervous system... By facilitating the delivery of fatty acids to the mitochondria (the energy stations of the cells), ALC optimizes the conversion of fatty acids into energy. In other words, it allows dietary fat to be converted more easily into energy and muscle tissue. But especially in synergy with ALA and coenzyme Q10, its results are most surprising.

- Vitamin D
Plays a primary role in maintaining phosphorus-calcium homeostasis. But mainly, vitamin D is considered today as a "physiological regulator of proliferation-differentiation of numerous cell types", and as a "modulator of the body's immune defense." For several years now, researchers have emphasized the essential role of vitamin D in the immune system.
People with vitamin D deficiency increase their risks of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.
Even earlier, "researchers have shown a link between vitamin D levels and mitochondrial function (mitochondria use glucose and oxygen to produce energy for cell function, using a molecule called ATP)."
From a translator. The dose is unknown to me, please comment on the dose.

Omega 3: A diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids has been shown to directly increase the concentration of cardiolipin in mitochondrial membranes. "
Prefer polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega 3, DHA, or ALA (salmon, sardine, mackerel, flaxseed, walnut, etc.). or monounsaturated type omega 9 (olive oil, olives, avocado, canola oil, etc.)
From a translator. The dose is unknown to me, please comment on the dose.

- Curcuma: In integrative oncology, turmeric is used to reactivate damaged mitochondria.
From a translator. The dose is unknown to me, please comment on the dose.
Presumably curcumin is best, anne the turmeric itself, the dose on the package.

In this article, we talk about what a keto diet for weight loss is. We will tell you about its principles, permitted products and the results of weight loss. You will find out the diet menu for the week and the reviews of women who followed this nutritional method.

The keto diet (also called) is a nutritional system originally intended for children with epilepsy. In 1921, endocrinologist R. Woodight first discovered that with a low-carbohydrate high-fat diet, the liver forms ketone bodies.

In the same year, therapist R. Wilder called such a diet a keto diet and began to use it for the treatment of epilepsy in situations where medication did not bring any results. After some time, the medical staff drew attention to the fact that the patients became slimmer and lighter, after which the keto diet received a new branch of development.

Many famous low-carb diets, for example, are just a late variation on the keto diet.

The essence of the keto diet

The keto diet is based on a limited intake of proteins. The effectiveness of this nutritional system lies in achieving ketosis. Let's now understand what ketosis is.

Ketosis occurs when the body produces ketone bodies, which are molecules that carry energy for the body to function. They are formed when there is a lack of blood glucose levels.

The activation of the production of ketone bodies occurs when a very small amount of carbohydrates are consumed, which can rapidly break down to maintain blood glucose levels. In this case, a certain number of proteins must enter the body, since the excess protein can be converted by the liver into sugar.

Ketones are formed from fat in the liver and are essential for the proper functioning of various organs. For example, the human brain is able to receive energy from both glucose and ketones.

When eating the keto system, your body switches over. It begins to produce energy almost exclusively from fats. There is a decrease in insulin levels and rapid weight loss.

Thanks to these processes, it becomes easier for the body to extract energy for life from body fat. This is the secret to the effectiveness of the keto diet. Also, the benefits include:

decreased appetite;
supply of inexhaustible energy.

You can only talk about the appearance of ketosis at the moment when the liver begins to produce ketones. Of course, you can reach this state faster, but you have to completely stop eating. And this is fraught with various complications for your health!

An alternative to fasting is the keto diet - it is she who will help to achieve the desired result without negative consequences, moreover, you can sit on it for a long time!

The keto diet is the ideal nutritional system for women and men looking to gain a slim figure without losing muscle mass. But before observing it, you need to consult a specialist.

Types of diet

There are 3 types of ketogenic diets:

standard - this is what the majority of those who lose weight adhere to;
target - while observing it, the use of fast carbohydrates is allowed before training;
cyclical - 1 day per week you can replenish glycogen stores (most often this option is used by bodybuilders).

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Keto Diet

This power system has its pros and cons. Let's take a closer look at them.

Advantages:

Efficiency. Ketosis helps you lose excess body fat quickly.
You do not feel hungry, as you can snack on foods from the list of allowed.
There is no strict sequence of dishes. You can combine and select products based on your personal preference. Just remember, you must strictly adhere to the general formula of the bju. Your diet should be 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein, and only 5 percent carbohydrates.
While losing weight, you do not lose muscle mass. Weight loss occurs due to visceral and subcutaneous fat.
Curative and preventive value in relation to pathologies such as oncology, depression, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. A preliminary consultation with a specialist is required before proceeding with a diet for such diseases.
The low glycemic index of keto foods can help improve acne-prone dermis. Find out which ones can cope with cosmetic skin imperfections.

The diet has negative sides:

not everyone is allowed to observe it (we will describe the contraindications below);
unbalanced nutrition, therefore, with regular dieting, you will have to periodically undergo a medical examination;
in the first 14 days of dieting, you may experience fatigue, nausea, problems with concentration - this condition is caused by metabolic changes in the body;
during weight loss, the smell of acetone from the mouth may appear - this is a characteristic condition in ketosis;
the store has a limited selection of low-carb foods, for this reason you will need to take food with you for lunch and snacks;
the formation of problems with the intestines is likely due to the lack of many fruits, vegetables and grains in the diet.

To get into ketosis, follow our tips:

reduce your carbohydrate intake (no more than 50 grams);
reduce the number of proteins taken (no more than 1.7 g per 1 kg of your body weight);
do not worry about consumed fats, because they are the main source of energy in the keto nutrition system;
drink up to 4 liters of water per day;
Avoid snacks as they trigger an insulin spike.
try fasting to increase the amount of ketones, but remember, this is a serious burden for the body;
drink vitamins;
salt dishes if desired;
use cold-pressed coconut oil, as it contains a lot of medium-length triglycerides that convert into ketones;
exercise for at least 30 minutes a day can help you lose weight faster.

Keto diet foods

Weight loss with a keto diet is only possible if all the rules are followed and the use of permitted foods. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with the list of permitted and prohibited products.

Keto diet menu

Based on the permitted and prohibited foods, you can independently create your own diet plan for weight loss. We offer you sample menu for 1 day:

breakfast - tea, omelet with cheese and herbs;
lunch - turkey with mushrooms and herbs;
dinner - salad from boiled eggs and olives with olive oil, chicken casserole.

Keto diet menu for the week

We told you about the essence of the keto diet, the list of allowed and prohibited foods. Now it's time to introduce the menu for the week.

Day	Breakfast	Dinner	Snack	Dinner
Monday	Toast with cheese, 3-egg omelet	Vegetable salad, 30 gr of brown rice, baked chicken	Nuts	Cottage cheese, fish, eggplant and zucchini salad
Tuesday	Cottage cheese, 2 tsp honey	Cherry tomatoes, beans with beef	Nuts,	Cottage cheese, light version of "Caesar"
Wednesday	Grapefruit, 3 boiled eggs	Steamed veal, ratatouille	Avocado	Egg muffin, tuna and bean salad
Thursday	Curd and berry casserole	Grilled chicken drumstick, 30 gr buckwheat	Avocado	Mackerel, cucumber, cherry and radish salad
Friday	Grapefruit, curd omelet	Mozzarella, cucumber, cherry and trout salad	Nuts	Beef stroganoff, ratatouille
Saturday	Fried eggs with green beans	Stewed beans with squid	Avocado	Pork shashlik, Chinese cabbage, pepper, capers and cherry salad
Sunday	Green apple, curd omelet	Caesar salad"	Bread, cheese "Adyghe"	Cherry and cucumbers, turkey thigh in tomato paste

When dieting, remember to drink! And do sports whenever possible.

Keto diet recipes

In addition to effective weight loss, what is the keto diet good for? Of course, the possibility of preparing delicious and healthy dishes!

Below we invite you to check out some keto diet recipes to help you diversify your diet while losing weight!

Ginger Beef Roast

The finished dish is designed for 2 servings.

Ingredients:

olive oil - 20 ml;
bow - 1 medium head;
garlic - 1 clove;
beef - 2 boneless steaks;
tomatoes - 2 pcs;
ground ginger - 5 g;
apple cider vinegar - 80 ml;
salt and spices to taste.

How to cook:

Cut the meat into strips on top, cut the onion and tomatoes into cubes, pass the garlic through a press.
Preheat a skillet, pour the oil into it and lightly fry the steak on 2 sides over medium heat.
When the meat is well done, add garlic, tomatoes and onions to it.
In a separate container, combine the ginger, vinegar, and seasonings. While stirring, pour the mixture into the meat.
Cover the skillet with a lid, reduce heat, and cook until the liquid evaporates.
Sprinkle with herbs before serving.

The calorie content of one portion is 370 Kcal. BZHU: 46-27-7 gr.

Cobb salad recipe

Ingredients:

ham - 0.1 kg;
cherry - 4 pcs;
blue cheese - 30 gr;
eggs - 2 pcs;
Romano salad - 2 cups
avocado - 1 pc;
bacon - 2 slices;
salt and spices to taste;
Dijon mustard - 5 gr;
lemon juice - 1 tsp;
olive oil - 20 ml;
apple cider vinegar - 1 tablespoon

How to cook:

Cut the ham into cubes and fry in a pan greased with olive oil.
Boil the eggs and cut into slices and the cheese into cubes.
Put all products on lettuce leaves in the form of strips.
Mix the dressing products and pour over the salad.

Calorie content of 1 portion is 208 Kcal. BJU: proteins - 31 g, fats - 8 g, carbohydrates - 3 g.

Chicken casserole

The finished dish is designed for 4 servings.

Ingredients:

chicken breast - 0.7 kg;
vegetable oil - 60 gr;
green pesto sauce - 85 gr;
whipped cream - 370 ml;
pickled olives - 8 tbsp;
feta cheese - 0.23 kg;
garlic - 1 clove;
salt and spices to taste.

For serving:

greens - 0.5 kg;
olive oil - 4 tablespoons;
ground pepper - 1 tsp;
sea salt - 5 g.

How to cook:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Chop the garlic finely, cut the cheese into cubes.
Cut the chicken breast into pieces, add salt and spices. Fry in a pan until golden brown.
Combine the pesto and cream in a separate container.
Place the meat in a baking dish with cheese, garlic and olives. Top with the pesto and cream mixture.
Cook the dish for 30 minutes until a light brown crust appears around the edges.
Garnish with herbs before serving.

results

If you followed all the rules of the keto diet correctly, you can achieve amazing results in losing weight. In a week, you can lose 0.5-2.5 kg, depending on the individual characteristics of the body.

At the same time, you can sit on this diet for as long as you want, which means you can achieve even greater weight loss. Go for it and let it all overweight go away from your waist and hips as quickly as possible!

Contraindications

It is necessary to refrain from adhering to the diet in the following cases:

gallbladder disease;
pregnancy;
history of pancreatitis, gastric bypass surgery and renal failure;
liver failure;
tumors in the peritoneum;
trouble digesting fats;
problems with gastrointestinal motility;
lactation;
porphyria.

In all other cases, try to consult your doctor before proceeding with the diet.

Before and after photos

Minus 12 kg.

Minus 9 kg.

Minus 21 kg.

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The trendy and controversial ketogenic diet for cancer is promoted by many nutritionists and specialists in the realm of alternative medicine.

Does it really work?

Looks attractive: lose weight and improve your health by clicking on scrambled eggs and bacon.

A high protein, low carbohydrate diet was originally developed to treat epilepsy in the 1920s.

Now, a century later, doctors are thinking: can ketogenic be used for other purposes, including nutrition for cancer patients?

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham were trying to understand whether a diet can help women with ovarian and endometrial cancer lose weight and normalize insulin levels.

Results of a new study

The project involved 45 overweight or obese women with ovarian and endometrial cancer. The participants were divided into two groups: the first received a ketogenic diet, and the second group received the standard food for cancer patients recommended by the American Cancer Society.

Recall that ACS today offers cancer patients a balanced protein-vitamin diet with a high or moderate content of carbohydrates, fiber and a minimum of fat.

A 12-week study found that the ketogenic diet resulted in more significant reductions in fat mass and was more effective in controlling insulin than the ACS diet.

Details of the work are published in the Journal of Nutrition.

But experts warn: weight loss and normalization of carbohydrate metabolism does not mean that this diet can be considered as a new treatment for cancer.

How does the ketogenic diet work?

"Keto", as nutritionists affectionately call it, severely restricts carbohydrates, forcing the body to utilize fat deposits as its main source of fuel. Some fats are converted to ketones, which are used by the brain and many other organs as another fuel.

“Because cancer cells prefer glucose, diets that limit glucose may be helpful in the treatment of cancer. Keto limits the intake of not only glucose into cells, but also some growth factors. This inhibits the growth of neoplasms and gives the immune system time to respond, ”explains her mechanism, Dr. Barbara Gower.

Previous research has shown that the ketogenic diet is associated with better outcomes in combination cancer therapy. Without acting, of course, in the role of the main treatment.

“First, it lowers insulin, a hormone that is one of the growth factors. High-carbohydrate diets increase the risk of cancer because they stimulate the release of large amounts of the naturally occurring cell stimulant. Second, keto can significantly reduce visceral fat stores, ”adds the researcher.

As a reminder, visceral white fat is “bad fat” that accumulates primarily in the abdominal cavity. Its excess has been associated with an increased risk of cancer and diabetes.

Dr. Gower states that patients with higher ketones have decreased IGF-1 growth factor levels. It also stimulates the growth and division of tumor cells. Today, scientists continue to actively search in this direction, and hope to one day recommend keto as the optimal diet for cancer patients.

The ketogenic diet in cancer treatment: take your time!

Caroline Lammersfeld, vice president of integrative medicine at the Cancer Treatment Center, recommends intensifying research on the miracle diet, but not jumping to conclusions.

“The new study did not assess the effect of diet on cancer therapy outcomes. Perhaps the ketogenic diet contributed to weight loss. It is also possible that the metabolic effects of the ketogenic diet contributed to the normalization of insulin, no more, ”the doctor recalled.

Her colleague Dr. Lee Tracy, a dietitian and board-certified diabetes trainer at the Endocrinology Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, agrees that there is no scientific basis for the prophylactic, much less therapeutic, potential of the ketogenic diet for cancer. What's more, doctors don't know much about the long-term effects of keto on the body.

Short-term normalization of weight, sugar and insulin is great. But what's next?

According to some experts, weight loss may only be beneficial for estrogen-dependent gynecological cancer. Since adipose tissue produces its own estrogen, burning it too much deprives the tumor of the necessary "fuel".

Again, the problem is the short-term effects of the ketogenic diet. In 2010, a small study found that in patients undergoing cancer surgery, keto does reduce the risk of disease recurrence, but this anticancer effect quickly disappears when participants drop out of their diet and return to their regular diet.

“I focus on optimizing nutrition and nutrient intake for chronic disease. Depriving the body of access to any basic nutrients(including carbohydrates) alters the metabolism and invariably has a negative impact on health. The best dietary intervention for overweight is calorie restriction with a complete diet, ”said Michael Gonzales of the Minnesota Obesity Center.

Finally, a recent report from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute points out that the ketogenic diet is not scientifically proven to be effective in treating cancer, but there are potential risks.

Perhaps Dr. Gonzales is right — the secret is moderation.

Konstantin Mokanov