What Is Ketogenic Diet? Low-Carb Diet Can Improve Memory, Study Says

The ketogenic or keto diet has been favored by a number of celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Mick Jagger, and Kim Kardashian. Recently, two studies have shown the high-fat and low-carb diet can improve memory in old age.

The two new independently conducted studies were published Tuesday in the journal Cell Metabolism, Medical News Today reported. The journal publishes reports of novel results in the area of metabolic biology.

One study was led by Drs. Eric Verdin and John Newman from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, California, and they studied the effect of the keto diet on aging mice. The second one led by Dr. John Ramsey from the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, also looked at the impact of the keto diet on aging mice. However, the study also found an additional aspect that this diet may also improve strength and coordination, Medical News Today reported.

For both the studies, researchers put the mice on four types of diet, namely: ketogenic, low carbohydrate, high fat, and control. The researchers then involved the mice in various tasks such as solving a maze, balancing beams and running on wheels to test the effect of each diet on the mice's cognitive skills and physical strength as they grew old. Researchers also took into consideration the heart functions of the mice and whether it was experiencing any changes. They also studied changes in the regulation of gene expression.

"The older mice on the ketogenic diet had a better memory than the younger mice. That's really remarkable," Dr. Verdin said.

Dr. Ramsey said the results of the tests conducted on mice are applicable to humans also, Daily Mail reported. "At a fundamental level, humans follow similar changes and experience a decrease in overall function of organs during aging." He added that the study "opens a new avenue for possible dietary interventions that have an impact on aging."

How does the keto diet help in improving one's memory? Analysts noted that it can raise the concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate acid (BHB) in the body that improves memory. BHB is a ketone, a chemical compound formed during the process of fat breaking down in the liver. Ketones also serve as alternative metabolic fuels for the brain and heart.

A keto diet turns the body into a fat-burning machine and is usually known for reducing weight, improving health and performance and there have been over 20 studies that prove this, according to healthline.com, a website that provides health information.

When you are on a keto diet, your body starts running on fat; insulin levels become low and fat starts burning quickly.

One should take care of what he is eating during this time. Try to eat the items mentioned below:

1) Meat: Red meat, steak, ham, sausage, bacon, chicken, and turkey.

2) Fatty fish: Salmon, trout, tuna, and mackerel.

3) Eggs: Pastured or omega-3 whole eggs.

4) Butter and cream: Grass-fed when possible.

5) Cheese: Unprocessed cheese like cheddar, goat, cream, blue or mozzarella.

6) Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, etc.

7) Healthy oils: Primarily extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil.