Since many aboriginal tribes (And hell, the Eskimo people in particular) thrived & lived to see triple digit lifespans whilst subsisting almost entirely upon Ketogenic Diets, I would say it stands to reason it isn’t harmful. I’m not claiming anything magical about Keto. I’m saying specifically, my ancestors subsisted from womb-to-tomb on a very similar diet and they survived to see very very old age. You’re welcome to attribute that specifically to keto if you’d like but I’d combine it with the genetics that were passed down to create a heartier healthier human. Ketogenic and Cancer Warning Advise!
Why does it stand to reason that it would be harmful? Just because it’s different?
Is the ketogenic diet healthy or unhealthy?
My answer: Both.
There are two ways to do keto:
The “right” way: Eating high-quality meats, veggies, & fats.
The “dirty” way: Eating “keto” foods that are high in “bad” fats.
Both ways will get you into ketosis, but the “dirty” way will have unhealthy effects on your body in the long term. The true answer is that the keto diet can be the healthiest way a human can eat or it can send you to an early grave — it all depends on the way that you apply the diet to reach the metabolic state.
Humans haven’t eaten the crazy amounts of carbs we eat now until very recently in our existence. Agriculture is a fairly new thing in the history of man. No way were we eating tons of carbs by just gathering, it would have been s0 much more efficient to kill a large animal, eat it’s meat and organs (which supply tons of nutrients that veggies and fruits also do, we don’t get now because most people don’t eat organs) dry out the remaining meat and eat it over a long period of time.
Humans weren’t growing wheat and rice and storing them for the winter at the dawn of humanity. I would say it stands to reason that humans are more capable of sustaining on a large meat and offal diet than one consisting of large amounts of carbs.
“Why does it stand to reason that it would be harmful”
I’m not saying IT’S HARMFUL or even I THINK IT’S HARMFUL, but just that, many things are totally fine when done in controlled ways or done for limited periods of time, but are harmful when extended or taken to the extreme.
For example, fasting is healthy, but not eating for a very long period of time can cause starvation and death.
Another example, consuming small amounts of nutmeg can be good or fine for you, but consume too much and it can literally kill you.
I’m not saying this means that a little ketosis is good for you and a lot is bad for you, just that it seems that it could potentially be the case given how many other examples of such situations there are, so I thought it best to ask and make sure! It’s my body after all!
Keto is easy on the liver purely due to the negative stimulus of a huge reduction in fructose. You could probably find a way to still be hard on your liver eating bad and contaminated food while on keto, but it would still be better than a high sugar diet. Many liver specialist encouraged this diet for weight loss to help with fatty liver 🙂
Carbohydrate intake (as would be expected in the Standard American Diet) is associated with liver fibrosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, Removing carbohydrates from the diet – and, therefore, following a Very-Low-Carbohydrate-High-FAT (VLCHF) – is associated with reversal of pathologies.
So I suggest that following a ketogenic diet is absolutely one of the best things you can do for your liver.
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/96/4/727.full.pdf+html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657151
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19575599
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/779777_4
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/138/8/1452
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Keto+puts+stress+on+kidneys+and+liver&FORM=HDRSC3
The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate diet that in medicine is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children. The diet forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates. Normally, the carbohydrates contained in food are converted into glucose, which is then transported around the body and is also particularly important in fueling brain function.
However, if little carbohydrate remains in the diet, the liver converts fat into fatty acids and ketone bodies. The ketone bodies pass into the brain and replace glucose as an energy source. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as ketosis, leads to a reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures. Around half of children and young people with epilepsy who have tried some form of this diet saw the number of seizures drop by at least half, and the effect persists even after discontinuing the diet.
Some evidence indicates that adults with epilepsy may benefit from the diet, and that a less strict regimen, such as a modified Atkins diet, is similarly effective. Potential side effects may include constipation, high cholesterol, growth slowing, acidosis, and kidney stones.
Ketosis happens when your body resorts to fat for energy after your stored carbohydrates have been burned out. It often occurs when people fast and exercise. But most commonly, ketosis occurs in people who eat low-carb, high-protein diets, which is called the ketogenic diets. There’s some evidence ketosis can tax your kidneys, leading to kidney stones and low blood pressure. In diabetics, a variant of ketosis can be fatal. However, a small but growing group of health professionals say ketosis is not the poison you’ve been lead to think it was, and it may be better for you than high-carbohydrate eating. Your specific dietary habits are best advised by your healthcare provider or nutritionist.
Ketosis Facts
Ketosis happens when you get a buildup of a substance known as ketones, or ketone bodies in your blood. They are released when your body’s carbohydrate stores run out and you have to break down fat stores for energy. Dieters try deliberately cause ketosis because it makes you feel less hungry. However, ketosis also makes you feel tired and sluggish, because as “Medical News Today” reports, ketones aren’t the most efficient source of energy, especially for your brain. Ketosis can also harm your kidneys.
Kidney Failure
Annually, more than 100,000 people are diagnosed with kidney failure in the United States, reports the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, or NIDDK. The condition is marked by the inability of your kidneys to do their job of eliminating wastes. One treatment for kidney failure is dialysis, a draining & lengthy artificial blood cleansing process. Another option is a kidney transplant. The NIDDK states that the cost of care for patients with kidney failure reached close to $32 billion in 2005. The federal government subsidizes some kidney-related healthcare.
Ketosis Effects on the Kidneys
Very high levels of ketones make your blood more acidic and overburden your kidneys. “Medical News Today” reports one of the side effects of a ketogenic diet is the formation of kidney stones. In processing higher amounts of protein, your kidneys work hard and are forced to excrete more sodium, calcium and potassium, as well as filter more of the byproducts of protein metabolism. This extra fluid & electrolyte loss can cause low blood pressure, another function mediated by your kidneys. Ketosis in the presence of diabetes can lead to ketoacidosis and coma, and can be life threatening.
Ketosis Controversy
A National Institutes of Health researcher, Richard Veech, argues that what’s being reported about ketosis is all wrong. He told the “New York Times” in 2002 that ketosis is a normal metabolic state, and arguably the “natural state of man.” He and others say that the media and some medical authorities have confused the public about ketosis, partially out of the real threat it poses to diabetics. However, for the rest of us, says Veech, ketosis is simply an evolution-driven response to the need to survive on stored fat. Veech goes a step further saying ketones are a more preferred fuel source than carbohydrates.
The Times reported in that article that previous research showed that the heart and brain run 25 percent more efficiently on ketones than blood sugar. In 2004, a group of Kuwait University researchers reported in the journal “Experimental & Clinical Cardiology” that they found no adverse effects of using a ketogenic diet in a sample of obese people over 6 months (Ref 6). If you want to start a high-protein or otherwise ketogenic eating regimen, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider before doing so, and also seek regular care to ensure adequate nutrition. Which Type Keto is right for you By Dr. Josh Axe!!!
Clearing Up Kidney Confusion: Part Deux
It’s funny how our mental state really affects how we write and what we are interested in. When I wrote the introduction to this piece I was just getting settled into our new place in Santa Fe, NM and was looking at over a month at home to work and write. Then a number of wacky events happened, and I’ve been home about 7 days out of the last month and I’ve only made it about 70 pages into Kon-Tiki. Ouch. Now I’m home for 8 days and will then be gone for a project that will take me completely off the grid for nearly 3 weeks.
No phone, email…nada. When I sat down to do this kidney piece it was with a mindset. I had a ton of time and could really sink my teeth into it. Now I’m time crunched and anxious that I will get it done at all! Up front here I’d like to thank Mat “The Kraken” Lalonde with his help on some literature for this piece. Any inaccuracies however are my own tomfoolery. If I wanted to cut to the chase I could boil this whole thing down to the following:
1-Dietary protein DOES NOT CAUSE KIDNEY DAMAGE. 2-Chronically elevated BLOOD GLUCOSE levels DO cause kidney damage. 3-Dietary fructose REALLY causes kidney damage. 4-Many kidney issues have either a hyper-insulinemic characteristic, an autoimmune characteristic, and or a combination of autoimmunity or hyperinsulinism. A standard, low-ish carb paleo diet can fix most of these issues. 5-For serious kidney damage a low-protein, ketogenic diet can be remarkably therapeutic. 6-If you get kidney stones that are from oxalates, reduce your green veggie intake (spinach for example) and have other types of veggies. 7-If you get kidney stones that are from urate salts, you are likely NOT following a low-ish carb paleo diet, you likely have insulin resistance and your liver is not processing uric acid. Continue reading >>
Liver damage caused by ketosis?
When the liver is hot, so are your emotions. When the liver is unstressed and cool, you are calm and relaxed. Altered or hot emotions, is the liver’s attempt to alert you that it needs help. Think of your liver as an oven. If it is cool, your emotions are even and regular. The hotter the liver gets, the more intense your emotions become. https://www.wellnesscenter.net/the-liver-kidneys-and-gallbladder/
The stressors we all face in our daily lives can often be ignored and pushed past, but have you ever wondered how stress affects your body? Well, it is a well known fact that staying tense and stressed about things can take a toll on your heart, and digestion and even your immunity.
In this post Dr. Bhavesh Vora, consultant nephrologist and transplant physician, Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai, tells you how stress can affect your kidneys.
How does stress affect your kidney function?
Increases your blood pressure: Stress can give rise to hypertension, and since high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney disease (apart from diabetes), stress can lead to an increase in blood pressure and have an adverse effect on your kidney function.
Can cause your blood sugar levels to plummet: Stress can worsen your diabetes and often is the reason for uncontrolled blood sugar.
Increases the number of cigarettes you smoke: A common phenomenon in people these days is to smoke to relieve stress. This is again a very bad habit as smoking is very harmful to your kidneys as it causes a reduction in the blood circulation in the organ, which in turn can lead to kidney disease. You may also like to read about the 25 things that happen in your body when you smoke.
Can sudden high levels of stress have an effect on your kidneys?
Not really, but yes it can compound over time and lead to kidney disease. For instance, if you drink less water or smoke too much due to stress, then in the long run it can lead to kidney disease.
Can kidney damage due to stress related ailments be reversed with a healthy lifestyle?
Yes. In fact, it is possible at any stage — even when the kidney damage is severe. For instance, if a person is going to need dialysis in the next five years, with the right lifestyle modifications he 0r she will most likely need it only after about 10 to-15 years or may not require it at all in his life time → lifetime. You may like to read about the natural ways to keep your kidneys healthy.
That being said, while the structural damage that is present cannot be reversed, the functional damage can be. Therefore, by making essential changes in your lifestyle such as drinking enough water and staying hydrated, reducing stress levels, controlling your blood sugar and blood pressure levels, eating healthy, quitting smoking and drinking & exercising regularly, you will be able to see a significant change in your kidney function.
Ketogenic diet increases mitochondria volume in the liver and skeletal muscle without altering oxidative stress markers in rats. https://www.heliyon.com/article/e00975/
Does Ketosis Cause Kidney Damage?
Does a diet that is mildly ketotic cause Kidney or Liver Damage.
It has not been associated with kidney damage or disease in individuals who have normally functioning kidneys. Concerns regarding undue stress on the kidneys are often aimed at very low carbohydrate, very high protein ketogenic diets.
Few studies have shown any actual damage, however.
Dietary ketosis is among the most maligned and misunderstood concepts in nutrition medicine. Particularly among researchers who don’t actually treat patients, ketosis (is the presence of ketone bodies in the urine) is often confused with ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening build-up of ketone bodies due to muscle wasting and dehydration as in states of shock or uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes.
In the Type 1 diabetic, the absence of insulin leads to a toxic build-up of blood glucose and an extreme break-down of fat and also muscle tissue. This condition doesn’t occur in individuals who have a small amount of insulin, whether from natural production or artificially administered. Whereas patients in ketoacidosis are also closely monitored in Intensive Care Units, individuals in ketosis are amongst the healthy, active population. Dietary ketosis is a natural adjustment to the body’s reduced intake of carbohydrates as the body shifts its primary source of energy from carbohydrates to stored fat.
The presence of insulin keeps ketone production in check…. so that a mild, beneficial ketosis is achieved. Blood glucose levels are stabilized within a normal range and there is no break-down of healthy muscle tissue. It would also be difficult to make a credible argument against ketosis, which has been used successfully among both healthy people seeking improved fitness and nutritionally fragile children with epilepsy, diabetes, and cancer.
There has been speculation that ketosis can put undue stress on the kidneys (McArdle, WD, Essentials of exercise physiology. Philadelphia, PA Lea & Febiger, 1994) though few clinical studies have shown any damage. In perhaps the highest protein intake studied, an adult male bodybuilder consumed an average of 2,263 calories, 71% from protein or 2.27 grams per pound for 10 weeks. His weight dropped from 168 lbs. to 139 lbs. and his body fat from 16% to 4.4%. Blood analysis found an increase in a reliable test of kidney function called “blood urea nitrogen” or BUN from 16 to 53 (normal is 6 to 25) without evidence of kidney damage. We would not advocate such high protein intake for such an extended period, however, it’s also interesting to note how much people have pushed the limits without suffering consequences. Everyone is in some degree of ketosis all day.
The most sensitive tests of ketosis (“NMR” and “blood ketone level”) show that we all have ketones under any condition. For instance, anyone off the street (not dieting or exercising, having just eaten) may have a ketosis reading of 0.003 to 0.01; most of us are up to about 50 after not eating overnight; after completing a marathon, runners have readings of over 100; in the first week of a diet (whether or not it’s “ketogenic”), the readings are around 200-300. There is no definition for the precise level that constitutes “ketosis.” Most weight control and ketogenic epilepsy or cancer treatment programs define ketosis as visible color on a urine dipstick.
The problem is, we may have enough ketones in our urine to turn the stick a different color at 6:00 but not at 6:15. It is a very crude, and very transient, measurement. Some of the benefits many people experience while in a state of dietary ketosis for intentional weight loss may include rapid weight loss, decreased hunger & cravings, improved mood, increased energy and, as long as protein intake is adequate, protection of lean mass.
The closest to damage from a low carb diet comes from the odd nutcase who tries to combine keto with no liquid, which does put stress on the kidney (just like any other diet which does not include liquid) but because keto is slightly diuretic, you’ll see the effects a little quicker.
Okay, I’ll start with the assumption that keto is high protein. No, it’s not, it’s moderate protein compared with standard BB diets. The dangers of protein to the kidneys would apply far more to a 40/40/20 diet than to a keto one. If they applied. But they don’t. People with damaged kidneys can not tolerate high levels of protein. So some “experts” have extrapolated this to mean that high levels of protein can damage healthy kidneys. Except there has not been one single case of this in the history of recorded medicine.
Most keto diets do not recommend 14 days or less, that’s the classic way to do it wrong. Most low carb diets recommend making it a lifestyle.
And again, where is the evidence that ketones do any damage to liver or kidneys or any other organ? Not a single case. The closest to damage from a low carb diet comes from the odd nutcase who tries to combine keto with no liquid, which does put stress on the kidney (just like any other diet which does not include liquid) because keto is slightly diuretic, you’ll see the effects a little quicker.
When protein is deflected in this manner, it releases nitrogen into the blood stream, placing a burden on the kidneys as they try to excrete excessive urinary water due to sodium loss. When fat is deflected, the breakup releases fatty acids, or ketones, into the bloodstream, further burdening the kidneys. If ketosis continues for long periods of time, serious damage to the liver and kidneys can occur, which is why most low-carbohydrate, or ketogenic diets recommend only short-term use, typically 14 days.
So I’m about to fire up a keto regiment (again, I always fall off the wagon after about 2 months). Just searching around as it seems the other two times I started it I tend to have diarrhea a lot. Anyway, came across this. Any truth to this?
Keto makes me thirsty and will often drink constantly as long as my glass of water is full.
There was a girl who did a series of nutcase diets, finishing with low carb and zero liquid, and she died. She is widely quoted as an example of the danger of keto diets, not as an example of Eating Disorder.
Normal people drink as normal on keto, and have no problems. If your dumb enough to do something stupid like not drink water…nature has no choice but to end your life…..dumb…. DRINK WATER!!
Does a ketogenic diet damage or overstress your liver?
Matt Saks, studied at New York University School of Medicine
Answered Jun 8, 2018
I have not seen any evidence that supports this notion.
If your liver is healthy, it should have no issues meeting the (minimal) metabolic demands placed on the body by a ketogenic diet. Just remember that when you are on a highly carb-restricted diet, s0 you need to be getting the majority of your daily calories from fat, not protein. Replacing too many of the calories from carbohydrates with calories from protein may have an adverse effect on the kidney over time. A proper diet includes no more than 30-35% of daily calories from protein.
On the flip side, a diet high in carbohydrates (particularly fructose) is very stressful on the liver over time. The reason for this is due to the chronic conversion of blood sugar into fat that surrounds the liver. Over time this can lead to liver inflammation in a condition called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)—also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Selim Jamil, On a Keto diet and plan to stay on it for life!
Answered Jun 18, 2018
I just had a blood test done after being strictly ketogenic for the past 5 months. My triglycerides, cholesterol, a1c and every other biomarker suggesting inflammation or health concerns are better than they’ve ever been in my adult life. That’s not a guarantee of course that anyone will do better on it but it is strong evidence suggesting that at least some people will have much better health outcomes on keto.
15 Reason to Avoid The Ketogenic Diet
1. If You Have Crohn’s Disease
2. If You Suffer From Cardiovascular Disease
3. If You Have Diabetes
4. If You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
5. If You Suffer From Skin Problems
6. If You Are Anorexic Or Underweight
7. If You Have High Blood Pressure Or
Are Taking Blood Pressure Medications
8. If You Are Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
9. If You Have Mineral Or Vitamin Deficiencies
10. If You Have Other Special Medical Conditions
11. If You’re Lactose-Intolerant
12. If You Have Specific Food Allergies
13. If You’re A Vegetarian Or Vegan
14. If You Are A Picky Eater
15. If You’re On A Tight Budget
Related Stories > Keto Benefits.
Point Counter Point: Delina MacDonald Yuill states; Research and Studies have shown Eskimos are not living in ketosis the body did everything it could t0 altered metabolism genes to make sure the body did not stay in ketosis. S0 nature doesn’t seem to want the human body in ketosis and Eskimos are a great example of how the human body adapts itself to human conditions and they don’t live in ketosis even on a high-fat diet.
Anyhow as I read this there are so many things in this article to dissect. realistic all carbs aren’t bad carbohydrates. In fact: broccoli sprouts, broccoli and other well meaning carbs always seem to get bundled in together with cakes and cookies. This is the biggest failure to begin with and the greatest starting point to begin your healing. We must exclude bad fats like vegetable oils and hydrogenated or highly processed oils. Just so you know my mind is absolutely not wrapped against keto. My belief in certain instances a temporary diet like this can be very beneficial. But long-term it can be very detrimental!
I’m in a two-year program for the fifth year because I do – do extra research. Because I don’t always take what everybody is handing me — at face value. Depending on which type of cancer I think it could be very therapeutic. But for breast cancer for instance one should know that fat actually helps metastasized breast cancer cells. I think the metabolic approach to cancer is the best and for some that will be the ketogenic and for others it will not be the right diet. If I had brain cancer I would absolutely do ketogenic diet.
One has to know what works better for themselves after they do their own biological testing through SNP variants.. and not just because somebody said the ketogenic diet will work for them. I went ketogenic when I was first diagnosed and my liver enzymes went through the roof which is why I had DNA testing through 23 and me — and also uploaded the data to find my fitness SNP variants and learned I don’t digest fat well.
I want people to realize that not everything works for everyone it’s fine it worked for Elaine Cantin. But not everybody is like Elaine and we really have to get to know our own bodies through testing and Allergy Testing. S0 whatever tests we can possibly afford, We need to realize that the more you know about how your body works chemically. The easier it will be to determine how to heal it.
I have no visible signs that was showing me that I wasn’t digesting these fats properly.
No pain.. no signs of gas or any indigestion whatsoever.. which is why it was actually a shock given that I was not able to do keda genic. So if one tries ketogenic and just can’t seem to get there liver enzymes down. Maybe they should consider getting SNP variants tested.. there are many ways nowadays you don’t have to go through 23 and me. There many companies that do it all in one step now.
I suggest to anyone trying Keto to get their liver enzymes tested at least six weeks in then maybe every 2 months for 6 unless there are no issues at all in the first 2 bloodwork. In my case I’m also looking at the metabolic approach to cancer. Through The Eyes of Dr. Nasha Winters; I am on the waiting list — to have her speak to my practitioner — in Toronto at the Medicor Cancer Center about my specific case. She takes all of the person’s blood work for the last year and develops a program based on that… for some it’s keto for others it’s not… it’s all dependent on the person’s metabolic numbers.
Ken: Dr. Nasha Winters is very Pro Keto in fact she used it to cure her own cancer… however she takes individual blood work and will customize a protocol admittingly it’s not always keto for some people just won’t do well on it – depending on their metabolic stasis.. and many times when you say metabolic many people think you’re talkin about digestion I’m talking about at a cellular level?
I follow Jack Kruse religiously when you listen to him for any length of time you learn his belief that food doesn’t really matter as long as you have the DHA and get the sunlight. In fact: he talks more about getting out into the sunlight at 7 a.m. then he does ketogenic and I’ve seen him talk where he says he’s not necessarily procured genic to disease!!!
Jack Kruse thinks by getting outside first thing in the morning — to reset your circadian rhythm he wants you out all day long for D. What he has to say since vitamin D is not what he’s talking about necessarily. What he wants — is the full spectrum of light in your eyes at sunrise.. send signals to your skin preparing them for the afternoon sun which is how you don’t get burned. I have a diet very rich in Omega-3s — but I definitely have my vegetables everyday and I would not be considered that ketogenic ..
Mind you most diets I see today are far from being healthy because people are eating processed foods two and three times a day when they should be kept to maybe once a month. I see people who tell me they eat healthy and when we go through their diet Diaries I find out that their diet – is actually atrocious and filled with toxic ingredients in processed foods and refined oils.. and yet they are insistent they eat healthy.
I’m vegetarian because of the Methionine content. Low methionine is well documented and a strategy that the nutritional oncology Research Institute uses.. I was a client there last year and continue to follow certain aspects of that protocol and methionine is one of the pathways.. that fuels cancer.. methionine is high in animal protein. As a nutritionist students I’m interested in many therapies and Protocols …. As a cancer patient! I have found my way and I’ve already been given an all-clear. In May I chose ozone insufflation and lifestyle changes including sun gazing and watching blue light exposure. With time restricted eating and a lot of detox through sauna and colon hydrotherapy.
As we as a low methionine diet with lots of fruits and vegetables.. N0 processed oil or foods, which includes refined sugars and grains.. CBD oil and made a cannabis strain high in CBD:THC… as well as the emotional work with a counselor and energy therapist… and included acupuncture and homeopathic remedies. Then some supplements to support the blood work I had monthly, depending on the blood work results. Which was how I chose my supplements.