There is a safer way to proceed with a ketogenic diet. Done right, you can burn visceral fat (the fat on your abdomen) and give your immune system a boost. The fat on your abdomen may be the reservoir where your body goes for energy when the glucose is no longer coming in. Creating an artificial situation where you have a temporary reduction in white blood cells and giving the body an opportunity to clear out damaged cells, while turning on the homopoetic stem cells to eventually create new white blood cells - this is what happens in mice and in human's in certain situations where the body is using ketones for fuel -- but it has been only been studied so far under very specific conditions. If you are going to proceed with a ketogenic diet, look to a professional in the field of nutrition for help. To be honest, recently It has come to my attention that a person with absolutely no formal accredited nutrition education is teaching a class in my community on how to do ketogenic diets. After learning some of the details from one of the students, I want to let my community know that there is a much safer way to proceed. Too much glucose restriction can be counter productive. If you don't understand exactly what is going on you may get surprises. A little bit of information about ketosis is, well - sometimes a little bit of information is dangerous -- it is like trying to fly a plane but you have only been taught how to take off. Talk with your doctor or be under the supervision of someone who the state has given a license to practice Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). There is a safer way to proceed.
For more information or if you have questions, contact:
Annette Marsden, M.S., C.N., has a CN (Certified Nutritionist) license from the Washington State Department of Health.
360.376.6745
