High Fat Diets for Metabolic Syndrome?

Ketogenic, or high fat and low carbohydrate, diets have hit a popular streak over the last several years. During the low fat craze, this kind of diet was believed to contribute to heart disease by raising cholesterol. However, there is little to no evidence to support this claim. Ketogenic diets have been shown to decrease risk in all aspects of metabolic syndrome:

• ·         Obesity: ketogenic diets improved weight loss, body composition, abdominal fat, and resting energy expenditure more than low fat diets
• ·         Type 2 Diabetes: lowers fasting glucose more than simply a low glycemic diet
• ·         Heart Disease: decreases triglycerides and increases HDL more than low fat diets
• ·         Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): symptoms of metabolic syndrome increase risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is significantly reduced with a ketogenic diet

Impressive improvements in metabolic syndrome can be seen with adherence to a ketogenic diet, but there can be some difficulty in keeping to a plan that is such a stark difference to the standard American diet. A ketogenic diet much be understood as a lifestyle change, not simply a diet. If a person holds to a ketogenic diet short term for rapid weight loss, then returns to their previous diet, of course the benefits gained will disappear. To maintain the improvements in body composition, insulin resistance, risk of heart disease, and NAFLD, a low carbohydrate diet must be continued long term.  

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