Keto diet reverses early signs of diabetes – but only for the first week

The keto diet is a dramatic way to kick-start the immune system and reverse signs of diabetes and inflammation. And it delivers all those positive health effects in just seven days.

But continue the diet any longer than that and the body starts storing the fat it’s supposed to be burning, say researchers from Yale School of Medicine.

The diet tricks the body into thinking it’s in starvation mode by dramatically reducing carb consumption; as a consequence, it starts burning fats instead of carbs and this triggers the release of chemicals called ketone bodies as an alternative source of fuel. This process also releases immune T-cells, and these reverse signs of diabetes and inflammation, and also improve the body’s overall metabolism. After a week on the diet, blood sugar levels and general inflammation reduce.

But these health benefits go into reverse after around a week on the diet and the body begins to store the large amounts of fats we’re consuming.

With one in three Americans pre-diabetic – their blood sugar levels are already too high – anything that can reverse that should be welcome. And even better, it can be done on just a seven-day diet. “Who wants to be on a diet forever, anyway?” said researcher Vishwa Deep Dixit.

(Source: Nature Metabolism, 2020; 2: 50)

What do you think? Start a conversation over on the... WDDTY Community