A ketogenic diet containing more fat, low proteins, and fewer carbohydrates prolongs life, improves health, provides physical strength and enhances mental coordination, show the reports on two new studies published in the September 2017 Cell Metabolism issue.
Researchers Studies the Effects of the Ketogenic Diet on Old Mice
Drs. John Newman and Eric Verdin led one study in Novato, California at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. The California-based researchers looked into the effects of keto diets on aging mice. Their experiments concluded that Ketogenic Diet Reduces Midlife Mortality and Improves Memory in Aging Mice.
Dr. John Ramsey led another study at the Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the University of California, to establish the impact keto diet creates in aging mice. The Dr. Ramsey-led research discovered two new benefits of the ketogenic diet-improvement of physical strength and high level of mental alertness. A Ketogenic Diet Extends Longevity and Healthspan in Adult Mice showed similar results as the other study.
What is a Ketogenic Diet?
Keto diets have low-carbs, low proteins, and high-fat ingredients. In the two studies, researchers had ketogenic, high-fat, carbohydrate, and control diets. The researchers noted that when the body lives on low-carb intake, there is a shift to the use of ketones, instead of glucose, as the energy source.
High-fat, Low Carbs and a Prolonged Lifespan
The study of the factors that promote longevity started after researchers noted that some people live for more than 80 years and up to over 100 years. Dr. Ramsey, for example, has a 20 year-long particular interest in the mechanics of aging, old age diseases, and the illnesses that affect humans and rodents as age progresses.
Also of interest to Dr. Ramsey is the link between calorie restriction, high-fat diet, and aging. According to Cell Metabolism, the two new studies show that keto diets can help to achieve a 13% median life in humans, which is equivalent to 7-10 years in humans. The research has findings that can help to maintain cognitive ability and long lives.