A few weeks ago, I wrote about how simply changing the type of fuel your body runs on can train it to burn fat more efficiently. The fuel that most people run on is glucose, found in sugar and carbohydrates. Both the Paleo diet and the Ketogenic diet are low carb diets, which recommend healthy fats as an alternative fuel source.
Lowering carbs and increasing fat intake leads to the conversion of the fat already in your body into ketones, molecules that can be used by cells throughout the body, especially the brain, as an alternative fuel source to glucose. In other words, consuming fewer carbs switches your body from a glucose-burning engine to a fat-burning one. So, just by eating a low-carb or ketogenic-like diet, you can burn fat simply by eating the right way. You can also build muscle, as many bodybuilders swear by the ketogenic diet.
The ketogenic diet was initially developed to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children. An elevated level of ketone bodies in the blood, a state known as ketosis, can lead to a reduction in the frequency of seizures. Almost half of the children and young adults with epilepsy who tried this diet saw their number of seizures drop by at least half, and the positive effects persisted even after discontinuing the diet.
Recent research indicates that the ketogenic diet may have promise for treating some forms of mental illness. Australian researchers fed mice a ketogenic diet and observed fewer behaviors that resembled mental illness. They believe the diet might work by providing an alternative energy source in the form of ketone bodies and by helping to circumvent abnormally functioning cellular energy pathways in the brains of those with chronic mental illness.
So, could it be that better fuel helps your body’s most fuel-hungry organ, the brain, operate better? It definitely seems that way. A ketogenic diet may also help control common side effects of the drugs used to treat mental illness, such as weight gain, cardiovascular problems, and type 2 diabetes.
The positive effects of the ketogenic diet on both epilepsy and chronic mental health are great testaments to the healing power of food. There’s nothing mystical or pseudo-sciency about it; it’s quite practical, really.
But choosing the right fuel—fat—can sometimes be confusing. Some oils, such as sunflower and safflower, may sound natural, but your body is not adapted to processing these refined oils. Instead, opt for healthier options like olive oil, macadamia oil, or avocado oil, and avoid the following:
- Canola oil
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Margarine
- Partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Soybean oil
- Vegetable shortening
These oils are also too heavy in omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3s are the good stuff, and a healthy ratio of both is ideal. For example, the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio for corn oil is 57:1!
For the best health-boosting fats, choose from the following groups:
- Monounsaturated fats: Olives or olive oil, macadamia nuts or oil, avocados
- Saturated fats: Coconut oil (perfect for cooking). You can also find saturated fat in meats like beef and poultry, as well as eggs and wild-caught fish.
- Polyunsaturated fats: This type of fat is higher in omega-6s, so these foods should be consumed in moderation—almonds and almond butter, Brazil nuts, cashews and cashew butter, pistachios, and pecans.
In conclusion, choosing the right type of fat as your body’s fuel can result in numerous health benefits, including improved mental health, seizure control, and efficient fat-burning for weight loss and muscle gain. It’s time to ditch the sugar and carbs and start fueling your body with the healthier fats it craves.
