The Science of Keto Metabolic Therapy

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Many people misunderstand ketogenic foods and the ketogenic diet. While often seen as a weight-loss trend from the 1980s, similar to the Atkins Diet, ketogenic metabolic therapy has a much longer history.

It originated over a century ago as a highly effective treatment for epilepsy and seizures, especially in children. Beyond epilepsy, clinical trials show ketogenic metabolic therapy can help manage various health issues, including:

  • Pre-diabetes or insulin-resistant diabetes

  • Arthritis

  • Parkinson's disease

  • Migraine headaches

  • More recently, bipolar disorder and anorexia

Grilled salmon fillet topped with sliced red onions, pomegranate seeds, and chopped green onions, served with grilled asparagus on a light green plate.

Ketogenic metabolic therapy involves eating a diet high in good fats, with enough protein, and very few carbohydrates. When you eat this way, your body stops using glucose (from carbs) for energy. Instead, it switches to burning fat as its primary fuel source, converting it into ketones.

It's important to note that while many people go keto to lose weight, the specific coaching provided by Vanessa Aldaz and Caroline Beckwith for this therapy isn't about weight loss.