The ketogenic diet has gained popularity in recent years and has become a preferred nutritional plan for people of all ages. That said, this dietary roadmap could precipitate particularly important health benefits for people over 50.

Ketogenic Diet Overview

Scientifically classified as a ketogenic diet, this nutritional plan emphasizes decreased consumption of carbohydrate-containing foods and increased consumption of fat. Reduced carbohydrate intake is said to eventually put participating dieters’ bodies into a biological and metabolic process known as ketosis.

Once ketosis is established, medical researchers believe that the body becomes especially efficient at burning fat and converting fat into energy. Additionally, during this process, the body is believed to metabolize fat into chemicals classified as ketones, which are also said to provide important sources of energy.

[An accelerator of this is an intermittent fasting method where the restricting of carbs causes your body to access the next available energy source or ketones that are derived from stored fat. In this absence of glucose, fat is now burned by the body for energy.]

There are a number of other specific ketogenic diets including:

Targeted (TKD)

Those who participate in this version gradually add small amounts of carbohydrates to their diet.

Cyclic (CKD)

Adherents to this dietary plan consume carbohydrates on a cyclical basis, such as every few days or weeks.

High in protein

High-protein dieters consume higher amounts of protein as part of their dietary plans.

Standard (SKD)

Typically, this more commonly practiced version of dietary intake significantly lowered carbohydrate concentrations (perhaps as little as five percent of all dietary intake), along with protein-laden foods and a large amount of fatty products (in some cases, as much as 75 percent of all dietary needs).

In most cases, the average dieter or someone new to the ketogenic diet partakes in the standard or high protein versions. Cyclical and targeted variations are often done by professional athletes or people with very specific dietary needs.

Recommended Foods

Keto diet adherents are encouraged to consume foods such as meat, fatty fish, dairy products such as cheeses, milk, butter and cream, eggs, produce products that have low concentrations of carbohydrates, seasonings such as salt, pepper and a large amount of other spices, various necessities and seeds and oils such as olive and coconut. On the other hand, certain foods should be avoided or strictly limited. Such items include beans and vegetables, many fruits, high-sugar foods, alcohol, and grain products.

Benefits of the Keto Diet for People Over 50

Keto diet adherents, especially those over the age of 50, are said to enjoy numerous potential health benefits, including:

Increased physical and mental energy

As people age, energy levels can decline for various biological and environmental reasons. Followers of the Keto diet often witness an increase in strength and vitality. One of the reasons such an occurrence occurs is because the body is burning excess fat, which in turn is synthesized into energy. Additionally, systemic ketone synthesis tends to increase brain power and stimulate cognitive functions such as concentration and memory.

improved sleep

People tend to sleep less as they age. Keto dieters often gain more from exercise programs and tire more easily. Such an occurrence could precipitate longer and more fruitful rest periods.

Metabolism

Aging people often experience a slower metabolism than during their youth. Long-time keto dieters experience increased blood sugar regulation, which can increase their metabolic rates.

weightloss

Faster and more efficient fat metabolism helps the body shed stored body fat, which could precipitate the shedding of extra pounds. Additionally, adherents are also thought to experience reduced appetite, which could lead to decreased caloric intake.

Maintaining weight loss is important, especially as adults age, when they may need fewer daily calories compared to when they live in their 20s and even 30s. However, it is still important to get nutrient-rich foods from this diet for older adults.

Since it is common for older adults to lose muscle and strength, a nutritionist may recommend a specific high-protein ketogenic diet.

Protection against specific diseases

Ketogenic dieters over the age of 50 could reduce the risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, mental disorders such as Alzheimer’s, various cardiovascular diseases, various types of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD , for its acronym in English) and multiple sclerosis.

Aging

Aging is considered by some to be the most important risk factor for human disease or illness. So slowing down aging is the logical step to minimize these disease risk factors.

Good news that extends from the technical description of the ketosis process presented above, shows the increased energy of youth as a result and due to the use of fat as a fuel source, the body can go through a process where it can misunderstand the signals for the The mTOR signal is suppressed and the lack of glucose is evident, so it is reported that aging can be slowed down.

In general, for years, several studies have indicated that caloric restriction can help slow aging and even increase life expectancy. With the ketogenic diet it is possible, without cutting calories, to have an anti-aging effect. An intermittent fasting method used with the ketogenic diet may also have an effect on vascular aging.

When a person intermittently fasts or follows a ketogenic diet, BHB or beta-hydroxybutyrate is produced which is thought to induce anti-aging effects.

To be fair, as reported in the US National Library of Medicine’s National Institutes of Health article “Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors” in May 2017; Ketogenic diets, which are very low in carbohydrates and generally high in fat and/or protein, are used effectively in weight loss during the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular disease. However, an important note in the article was that “the results on the impact of such diets on cardiovascular risk factors are controversial” and “Furthermore, these diets are not entirely safe and may be associated with some adverse events.”

It is safe to say that more is needed than simply researching this diet, the benefits, positive effects, and side effects, especially in older adults, on the Internet and in journals alone. Those who specifically should consult their medical professional about specific concerns.