Keto is one of the most popular weight loss and brain performance diets out there. There are numerous effects of keto diet that mainly enhance our metabolic flexibility, making the body more efficient in switching between fat and glucose for energy. This can boost alertness and mental clarity, increase energy, and make us fat-burning machines.

Questions like: ”What are the benefits of a Keto diet”, or “Is Keto good for the brain”, or “Is the Ketogenic diet good for weight loss” or “How does the Ketogenic diet work” will be answered throughout the article. You will also learn some practical tips for a healthy ketogenic approach & fat loss, why you get brain fog, and how to prevent the Keto flu.

The Keto Diet

• The Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein diet.
• It relies mostly on low-carb veggies and fruits, nuts, meats, poultry, seeds, butter, and oils.

It has become very popular in modern times, being promoted as one of the best weight-loss diets.

The ketogenic diet was created for epilepsy treatment and is usually confused with the Atkins diet, which is a slightly less carb-restrictive diet than Keto.

Looking at the Macronutrient profile of the Keto Diet:

• 70% of calories are fats
• 25 % of calories are proteins
• 5% of calories are carbohydrates

We can see it is a pretty carb-restrictive and fat-enriched diet, but why would anyone switch to Keto? Well, there have been many claims that this diet is pretty powerful in accelerating fat loss, improving brain function, anti-aging, and reducing inflammation.

Keto works on different mechanisms that allow the body to reset its glucose metabolism and insulin levels, which can provide beneficial effects on carbohydrate absorption and efficient use of energy while diminishing sugar cravings.

Most of the Ketogenic effects originate from carb restriction, which in turn reduces inflammation, thus improving overall health

 For better perception we will split these Keto effects on the body into two sections:

• Performance improvement (brain, fat loss, heart health, skincare, inflammation)
• Potential disease prevention or improvement (type 2 diabetes, PCOS, Metabolic Syndrome, Cancer, Epilepsy, and Neurodegenerative diseases)

How Does The Ketogenic Diet Work?

A ketogenic diet puts you in sugar-starvation mode because your carbs have been restricted and significantly reduced. This will allow the body to use fats as the main fuel for energy instead of glucose. The goal state we’re aiming at is called the “ketogenic state” or “ketosis”.

• If you are a Keto-Fan and want to dive deeper in the Ketogenic stream of knowledge, make sure you also check out our Keto-Diet 101 Guide: Macronutrients, Foods, Supplements, Meal Plan & Side Effects + Ketosis Biohacks

Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the levels of ketone bodies or ketones are raised. This is a natural response of the body when the glucose supply isn’t sufficient enough for energy production.

When you don’t have enough glucose in your blood, the next fuel source is fats, so your body starts burning your fat for energy. The liver starts breaking down fats to produce more ketones, which serve as the main energy source now.

What Are Ketones?

Ketone bodies are water-soluble molecules or chemicals produced by the liver from fatty acids, when sugar content is too low, which is present during carbohydrate restriction or fasting.

There are three main ketone bodies:

• Acetone
• Acetoacetate 
• Beta-hydroxybutyrate

Most of the foods present in a healthy keto diet are rich in MCTs because they can be converted into ketones faster and easier. MCT oil is one of the richest sources of MCTs which can accelerate fat-burning and get you into ketosis faster.

Ketones vs Glucose

Using fats as the main fuel has different effects on the whole body, metabolism, hormones, and energy levels.

Everyone starting the Keto diet must understand what they are doing and how to do it right.

Now Ketones are beneficial for your brain and can improve mental performance, alertness & focus, but how do they affect overall physical performance and exercise capacity?

Well, it looks as if ketones and glucose have some significant differences as energy fuel. So let’s take a look at ketones vs glucose for the brain.

Keto-fueled brain	Glucose-fueled brain
Improved cognitive function	Better performance at stressful tasks
Better neuroprotective effects, antioxidants	Improved attention span and refocus speed
Mental clarity and alertness	Improved mood, dopamine reward sensation
Higher energy efficiency	Better exercise performance
Improved learning and memory	Improved short-term and implicit memory

My main point is both options can be great, just for different activities. The glucose-powered brain is usually what the majority of the population is enjoying. You are in a good mood, feeling satisfied, concentrated, bursts of energy, good short term memory, and learning skills.

However, excessive sugar consumption leads to inflammation and sugar cravings which can be detrimental in the long run. So this is why choosing Keto as a reset for 1-3 months might be a good idea, since the Keto diet restores appetite centers and it makes your brain more alert, focused, calm, and energized (without the crash).

Top 14 Keto Diet Benefits

Besides rapid weight loss and improved brain function, the Keto diet has many other health-promoting benefits for the body.

For better perception I will split these Keto effects on the body into two sections:

• Performance improvement (brain, fat loss, heart health, skincare, inflammation)
• Potential disease prevention or improvement (type 2 diabetes, PCOS, Metabolic Syndrome, Cancer, Epilepsy, and Neurodegenerative diseases)

1. May Promote Weight loss And Accelerate Fat-Loss

A lot of studies on Weight loss confirm the potential effect that Keto can produce.

Is a Ketogenic diet good for weight loss?

Ketogenic or Low-carb diets have been shown to be effective for weight loss more than high-carb or conventional diets.

• In this study on 53 healthy obese females, the low-carb diet group lost significantly more weight and fat in comparison to the low-fat diet in the short term. (1)
• Comparing conventional diet and low-carb, low-carb diet performed better in the long term (1 year) for weight loss. (2)
• In energy-restricted diets, a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet performed better than low fat on weight loss, fat mass, and body composition. (3)

Some of the underlying mechanisms behind Keto’s weight loss effects are:

2. May Improve Brain Performance & Cognitive Function

I have stumbled upon terms such as “Keto brain” or “Lean Brain” and questions asking whether Keto brains are actually healthier and more efficient.

Effects on focus, memory, learning & alertness

When we strip glucose off in your blood, there is no insulin to come pick it up and bring it to your brain. This is the sugar starvation mode. Luckily, your brain can use ketones made by your liver, which break down fats.

The so-called Keto brain is brain fueled on fats, typical for Keto eaters.

Your brain is made up of nearly 60% fat, one of the fattiest organs in your body. Your brain needs fat in order to function at an optimal level, however, the type of fat matters a lot.

A Keto diet that provides high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids is very important. Keeping the ratios of omega3 to omega6 somewhere around 1:1 to 1:4 is a great balance. Usually, unhealthy keto eaters or people on the typical western diet can throw this ratio out of balance by providing so high amounts of omega 6 that changes this ratio to 1:15 or even twice that. This can hinder your brain performance by increasing inflammation.

Keto Benefits on the Brain

Improved Focus

Your main excitatory neurotransmitter is Glutamate. Overstimulation can cause excess glutamate to build up which will hinder the function of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter. Ketogenic brains are better at removing the excess glutamate by converting it to glutamine which can help your brain focus, fight stress, and prevent overstimulation. (9)

Enhanced Memory

In 23 older patients with mild cognitive impairment, ketosis improved their verbal memory performance while at the same time providing multiple beneficial effects on weight and glucose metabolism. Levels of ketones were correlated with memory performance. Improved memory was believed to be due to reduced inflammation and improved energy metabolism. (10)

Improved Cognitive Function

A couple of studies focused on the effects of keto on the brain of children with cognitive impairment. Reports show that keto was beneficial in improving cognition, focus, alertness, and attention while reducing the frequency of seizures in children. (11) (12)

Age-Related Cognitive Decline Support

As we age, the ability to utilize glucose for energy in the brain is reduced. Interactions in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are crucial for behavior, memory, and planning. In rats, the ketogenic diet increased cognitive performance and MCT1 and MCT4 ketones transporters, while reducing GLUT1 (glucose transporter) which may be beneficial in enhancing large-scale network brain function. (13)

May Promote Neurogenesis

Neurogenesis is the process of creating new neural cells or neurons. When we are learning something, new neural pathways or connections are formed. The learning ability or the brain’s adaptability is known as neuroplasticity, and neurogenesis plays a major role in it. Mice fed with ketogenic diets have shown improved neurogenesis after kainic acid-induced seizures. (14)

3. Supports Cardiovascular Health

Is it true that a high-fat diet can improve cholesterol profile and cut the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Effects on cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood sugar

 Well, there is some research to support the evidence of keto and its effects on some markers that are associated with coronary diseases. However, most of the Keto success stories are seen in healthy keto eaters, not the ones that power up on bacon and butter of course.

Based on research from human and animal trials, the keto diet has been shown beneficial in improving some cardiovascular risk factors such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and HDL levels. (15)

Besides this, many fat-soluble vitamins that are crucial for the heart and blood vessels are higher in the Keto diet, plus the high-fat profile enhances their absorption. Heart-healthy nutrients rich in Keto are Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Potential benefits of Keto diet on Heart health.

Increase in HDL, Reduction in LDL and Triglycerides

The ketogenic diet was found beneficial for improving cholesterol profile. Lowering LDL and increasing HDL “the good cholesterol” has been shown to increase lifespan by reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A ketogenic diet was shown to increase HDL, and reduce LDL & triglycerides as well as blood glucose levels in obese patients. (16)

May Lower Blood Sugar and Insulin Levels

Diet high in saturated fat and very low in carbohydrates was tested on 83 subjects for 8 weeks. The results of these studies confirmed that the keto diet had a significant effect on lowering fasting insulin, blood pressure, and fasting glucose levels, which suggests the potential use of keto for short-term weight management and insulin resistance. (17) However, if keto is performed for type 2 diabetes patients, they should be under medical supervision since keto might significantly lower blood glucose. (18)

May Reduce The Risk Of Coronary Diseases

Carbohydrate restriction can alter lipid metabolism, especially the metabolism of lipoproteins, by modifying LDL, HDL, and VLDL in overweight men. In this study, 29 men ate a high-fat diet consisting of 65% fat, 10% carbs, and 25% protein for 12 weeks. They were separated into the placebo and experimental groups. The carb-restricted group showed improvements and decreased risk for atherosclerosis and coronary diseases. (19)

May Lower Blood Pressure

The ketogenic diet includes foods such as avocados, Swiss chard, broccoli, and mushrooms which are pretty high in potassium. This mineral plays a major role in reducing blood pressure by promoting fluid balance. (20) Low-carb diets were efficient at lowering blood pressure, dropping the systolic by 5.9 mmHg and diastolic by 4.5 mmHg in overweight patients. On top of all, many participants lost up to 10% of their body weight and reduced their blood pressure medications use. (21)

4. Potent Anti-Inflammatory Properties

The Ketogenic diet provides many foods that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which play a major role in reducing inflammation.

There is nothing wrong with inflammation, it is a regular process that happens in the muscles during exercise, in the brain while you are doing high-demand cognitive tasks, etc.  

You may have heard that majority of today’s diseases originate from inflammation, and that is true. But when we refer to inflammation, it is the basic response needed to stimulate regeneration that our cells can overcome and fight against, so that we adapt.

A ketogenic diet can even further improve this effect by :

• Reducing the cause of inflammation, one of which is excessive sugar consumption
• Providing powerful antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin A, and Omega 3 fatty acids

The ketogenic diet can potentially reduce inflammation by:

Improving mitochondrial respiration

When you are in a state of ketosis your body produces higher amounts of a ketone known as BHB or B-Hydroxybutyrate which reduces oxidative stress and improves mitochondrial function. (22)

Inhibiting Inflammation Pathways

By activating the AMPK pathway ketogenic diet can reduce inflammation by inhibiting nuclear factor kappa-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells known as the NF-kB pathway. Most of the neuroprotective effects of the Keto diet rely on its anti-inflammatory properties. (23)

Reducing Markers Of Inflammation

In a state of Ketosis, there is even evidence of reducing the CRP which stands for C-reactive protein, one of the main inflammation markers. The Keto diet looks like a safer alternative for cholesterol and inflammation reduction compared to other statin drugs. (24)

In order to improve these anti-inflammatory effects, you might want to do some switches in your daily Keto routine by changing the foods you eat.

Include more foods high in Omega 3’s with potent antioxidant activities such as green leafy vegetables, avocado, ginger, macadamia nuts, salmon, Swiss chard, olive oil, eggs, cauliflower, and herring.

Reduce your food intake of processed meat and oils such as Corn oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, bacon, corned beef, duck, ham, sausages, and canned meat.

5. Could Promote Healthy Skin

A ketogenic diet can be great for the skin if you eat properly. (25)

If you stack up on butter, unhealthy oils, and a bunch of processed meats – expect the exact opposite.

Clear, Healthy, and Youthful looking skin

Acne is triggered by inflammation in the skin and hormonal imbalance. A healthy ratio of omega3:omega6 can help with skin clearance and potentially reduce acne problems.

Natural Oils for the skin

Healthy oils in the Keto diet can provide the skin with all the needed nutrients and oils for its natural oiling. However, be aware that too much oil can be detrimental to the skin and cause inflammation.

Reducing Inflammation

Cutting off the main dietary source causing acne like processed carbohydrates, can initially help in clearing out red skin, acne, and breakouts. Other factors inducing inflammation besides sugars are stress and smoking, so taking care of these two might help too.

Potential Anti-Wrinkle effect

Aside from this, the Keto diet can theoretically improve skin health and make you look younger, due to its inflammation-reducing effects which go hand in hand with decreasing oxidative stress and damage being on of the main causes of aging. That being said, there is potential for healthy fats to promote positive anti-wrinkle effects on the skin during carb restriction.

Highly Nutritious for the Skin

One of the main benefits of the Keto diet for the skin is nourishment. In fact, many Keto-friendly foods such as Peanuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, avocado, avocado oil, Swiss chard, spinach, butternut squash, herring, salmon, tuna, mushrooms, and egg yolks are pretty high in fat-soluble vitamins that are important for healthy skin.

Vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Vitamin D are present in these foods and can promote many benefits for the skin such as pigmentation balance, skin regeneration, reducing inflammation, UV damage, and photoaging. (26)

Potential Effects of Keto Diet On Reversing, Treating, Or Preventing Diseases

Keto Diet was developed in the 1920s to treat pediatric epilepsy. The classic Keto diet has a ratio of 4:1 of total fat to carbohydrate and protein ratio. As you may have figured it out, Keto may potentially improve epilepsy due to its ability to regulate the excitatory neurotransmitter Glutamate and convert it into glutamine. Keto brains, because of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA can then rest, calm down and regenerate.

A couple of other benefits from using the Keto diet in these patients were observed so the benefits and uses of the diet shifted a little bit. Some of the major causes of death are cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and cancer. The Keto diet has shown some potential in improving blood markers associated with these diseases.

Disclaimer: You should consult with your doctor/nutritionist before starting out a Keto diet program. This website is created to provide you with educational content only and NOT to replace medical advice. By potential effects, we mean possibility. Even though there is some existing research, we need further investigation in humans for the correct diet program. Always consult with your doctor regarding specific health questions or medical conditions.

That being said, the ketogenic diet might have the potential to attenuate, prevent, delay, or reduce symptoms of:

6. Type 2 Diabetes

A low carbohydrate ketogenic diet caused significant improvements in glycemic control in obese diabetic subjects. This study involved 363 overweight and obese people who chose either a ketogenic or low-calorie diet. The ketogenic diet improved many parameters such as triglycerides, LDL, HDL, body weight, body mass index, weight circumference, fasting glucose, and creatinine. In 24 weeks, both LCD and LCKD improved many markers related to type 2 diabetes. (27)

There are even reports showing that patients with type 2 diabetes have discontinued or reduced their medications due to the effects of the Ketogenic diet on lowering blood glucose levels. (28)

It is important to note that patients on diabetes medications must practice the Keto diet under medical supervision since it can drastically lower blood sugar levels.

7. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease is linked to obesity and increased cholesterol. Reducing weight and inflammation in these individuals may positively affect health and reduce symptoms. For 6 months, five patients with an average BMI of 36.2 kg/m(2) followed a low-carb diet (<20g/day) with proper supplementation. On average they lost 12.8 kg and 4 out of 5 showed improvement in liver fibrosis, inflammatory grade, and steatosis. (29)

8. Potential Anti-Cancer Properties

Consumption of sugars leads to insulin secretion, which affects hormones such as HGH and IGF-1. These can potentially be detrimental to people with cancer, hence why limiting the sugars through fasting or keto diet may be beneficial. The Keto diet was shown to improve mitochondrial function, which is hindered in cancer cells and disrupts energy production (ATP cycle). Aside from this, the energy we get from ketones is more efficient, per unit of oxygen. So combining the Keto diet with chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic options may improve tumor response. (30)

9. Osteoarthritis & Joint Pain

Adults in their sixties and seventies were asked to follow a low-carb or low-fat diet to examine the effects on functional pain. A low carbohydrate diet was shown to reduce pain intensity and unpleasantness in functional tasks. The effect is believed to be due to reduced oxidative stress and inflammation. (31)

A high-fat diet can provide omega 3’s which work anti-inflammatory, plus a low-carbohydrate diet will lack the processed sugar that mainly causes inflammation, so reducing arthritic pains with Keto may be a healthier alternative for opioids.

10. PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

In this study, the Keto diet was shown to improve metabolic markers and promote endocrine balance. This can be helpful for women with PCOS, which is linked to obesity and insulin resistance.

For 24 weeks, 11 women with a BMI of >27 kg/m2 have limited their carbohydrates to 20 grams/day (or less). Dropping carbs allowed them to lose up to 12% body weight, -22% free testosterone, reduce LH/FSH ratio by -36%, and fasting insulin by -54%. (32)

11. Alzheimer’s Disease

A ketogenic diet can also be beneficial for preventing neurodegenerative diseases due to reduced inflammation, especially in the brain. By improving mitochondrial function, balancing neurotransmitters, and modulating signaling changes, Keto can positively affect the AD brain. (33) One of the major problems in neurodegeneration besides oxidative stress is impaired glucose metabolism, that carb-restrictive diets can reset.

12. Parkinson’s Disease

A ketogenic diet has improved urinary problems, uncomfortable sensations, fatigue, and daytime sleepiness in patients with PD. For 8 weeks this diet was safe, plus it improved motor and nonmotor symptoms. (34)

13. Metabolic Syndrome

Ketogenic diets, because of the carb restriction can potentially improve all the symptoms in metabolic syndromes, such as high triglycerides, low HDL, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, and visceral fat. (35) (36)

14. Cardiovascular Diseases

A ketogenic diet can be great for the heart too if done properly. There is evidence that shows how Keto can cut the risk of developing coronary diseases, due to improving blood pressure and cholesterol profile. Plus Ketogenic diet can assist in weight loss which is very beneficial for heart health. (37)

Potential Negative Side Effects Of The Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic style of eating comes with many potential health benefits for some people. However, it is just as important to consider the potential drawbacks of eating Fat Dominant diet.

Acute (Short Term)

It really depends on the consumer, eating, and lifestyle habits, etc. Here are a couple of potential drawbacks or precautions for the Ketogenic Diet:

• Lower Energy, Higher Fatigue which is a part of the adaptation phase presents with many restrictive diet, especially the low carb ones. It can affect energy levels and metabolism. Usually, people feel less energized, more tired, and fatigued, falling down along with their sex drive.
• The Keto flu is another state keto eaters can experience for which irritability, weakness, fatigue, headaches, and even nausea, vomiting, and constipation are characteristic.
• Other Side Effects that come as a result of lowering your carbohydrates are dizziness, inability to focus, loss of concentration, stomach cramps, low libido, and so on.
• Yo-yo effect – a popular self-preservation mechanism. If you have restricted your calories and did not keep up with it, after some period your body will want all of this fat back, and even more.

Disclaimer: Ketogenic diet has not been proven for the long term and there are potential drawbacks to eating the Keto diet for more than 3-6 months.

Chronic (Long Term)

As mentioned above, the Keto diet may not be safe in the long term.

Although the Keto diet can be a great reset diet that the majority can benefit from, in terms of weight loss, brain function, and inflammation, long-term Keto may come with unwanted side effects such as:

• Ketoacidosis: high levels of ketones in the blood, potential kidney, heart, liver, and brain damage
• Weak Exercise Performance: especially in higher-intensity sports that require glycogen, the body doesn’t have enough fuel for activity and regeneration.
• Yo-yo effect: comes as a response to a drastic reduction of carbohydrates, after which the body turns on the fat-saving mechanism resulting in weight regain.
• Slower Metabolism: cutting off carbs completely can result in a slower metabolism and reduced thyroid hormone levels.
• Increased Cardiovascular Disease Risk: if eating a bunch of processed meat, butter, and unhealthy oils is not good for your heart health, nor your vessels or cholesterol levels.
• Muscle Mass Loss: Some of the Keto weight loss comes as muscle loss too, with a diet low in proteins.
• Mood swings: the body can not cope with stress so easily, as one of the primary mechanisms for that needs glucose. Plus, hormones like dopamine can decrease, and cortisol can increase.

Frequently Asked Questions