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Keto diets have been making the headlines recently, with more and more people trying them in an attempt to lose weight and tackle other health issues.
The diet – which sees followers reduce carbohydrates and increase fat intake puts the body into the state of ketosis. In this state it is burning ketone bodies rather than glucose for fuel.
Keto diets are often (but not always) heavy in animal products like meat. But it is possible to follow the diet eating just plants. But is it healthy? In this exclusive Plant Based News video, top cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn weighs in with his opinion.
‘Strong views’
According to Dr. Kahn, he has some ‘strong views’ about the momentum around the ketogenic diet – and most people mean animal-heavy versions.
He says it is possible to follow a low carb diet that is plant-based based, adding: “[There is] a low carb, high fat ketogenic diet that actually in the medical literature, small study, looks fairly reasonable.
“But you’re not putting in butter and beef and cheese and eggs. You’re putting in healthy foods that come from plants.”
Dr. Joel Kahn talks to PBN Founder Klaus Mitchell.Subscribe to PBN’s YouTube Channel here
All plants
He adds: “There is a program out of the University of Southern California called the ‘fasting mimicking diet’. It’s the most scientifically studied low carb, high fat ketogenic diet and it’s all plants. It’s backed by 20 years of research.
“It’s been studied at the Mayo Clinic…and in Europe, for cancer and multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes and dementia. It’s plant-based, so get on the bandwagon of recognizing that increasing animal protein and animal fats has the very high likelihood of harming your health, short and long-term.
“Plants do the opposite: it’s simply the science that is present over and over. And there is a bridge – I talk about ketogenic diets. I talk about them cycling back to healthy whole food plant-based. That’s been studied.”
