The ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates and high in fat.
Reducing carbohydrates substantially changes the way the body obtains energy. Instead of relying mainly on glucose, the body increases its use of fat and produces ketone bodies.
But does this make keto healthy?
The answer depends on what we measure.
Ketogenic diets can improve several metabolic markers. They can reduce body weight and triglycerides. In some groups, they can also improve blood glucose control.
These can be meaningful health benefits.
But another metabolic marker can move in the opposite direction.
Some ketogenic diets can increase LDL cholesterol. This is important because LDL cholesterol is directly involved in the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
The type of ketogenic diet matters too.
A diet based largely on butter, processed meat and other foods rich in saturated fat is nutritionally very different from one containing fish, olive oil, nuts, seeds and vegetables.
Weight loss alone therefore does not tell us whether a diet is healthy.
For long-term health, we also need to consider cardiovascular risk, body composition, nutritional quality and whether the diet can provide what the body needs over time.
Keto can have useful clinical applications and metabolic effects.
But ketosis itself should not be confused with healthy eating.
