A diet rich in fats and carbohydrates, which has become popular in recent years, may extend human lifespan, new research reveals.
Researchers at Stanford University have found that the ketogenic diet, often called keto, can help muscles and stem cells survive stress and allow people to live longer.
The keto diet is extremely low in carbohydrates but high in fat. This trains the body to be as efficient as possible in burning fat and turning it into energy – which is the key thing in this case.
The researchers, who published their findings last week in Cell Metabolism, as reported by the Daily Mail, found that the keto diet produced many positive effects, just like fasting. By testing mice, researchers found that those who fasted for one to two and a half days had more resilient muscle cells.
“We found that fasting induces a resistance in muscle stem cells so that they survive food deprivation and are available for muscle regeneration when nutrients are replenished,” said Dr. Thomas Rendo, a professor of neurology at Stanford, in a statement from the University .
The keto diet seemed to have the same effect as fasting on the cells of the mice tested on keto. Ketone-induced cells were more resilient, surviving longer when deprived of nutrients, exposed to harmful chemicals or radiation.
“Cells have evolved to exist in times of abundance and in times of food deprivation,” Rendo said.
– Ketone bodies are formed when the body uses fat for energy, but also pushes stem cells into a state of rest that protects them during food deprivation. In this state, they are protected from environmental stress, but are also less able to regenerate damaged tissue.
The findings are promising for keto diet advocates. The keto diet is heralded as a way to lose weight and lose fat without going on a calorie-restricted diet.
However, there are some major drawbacks, some of which are big enough that dietitians don’t recommend them. First, a person just starting a diet can experience what’s called the “keto flu,” according to Healthline, where the body experiences severe fatigue and other symptoms as a result of a change in its body’s energy source.
