The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that claims to help with weight loss, the treatment of childhood epilepsy, blood sugar control, lowering total cholesterol, and even the management of acne.
It functions by causing the body to use fat reserves as fuel rather than glucose. Consuming carbohydrates causes the body to create insulin and glucose. Since glucose is a molecule used as energy, insulin production is necessary to metabolize glucose. Generally speaking, your body will use glucose more frequently than other energy sources. As a result, a low-carb diet reduces the amount of glucose produced by the body, forcing it to turn to its fat reserves for energy. This is one of the ways a ketogenic diet might make you lose weight.
Your body is forced to adopt a normal metabolic condition known as ketosis while following a complete ketogenic diet. Instead of using carbohydrates or protein as fuel during the ketosis state, your body produces ketones from fat, which serve as your body’s primary source of energy. This shift in nutrition impacts your general health, but your skin also experiences specific effects.
In this article, we will highlight all these effects in detail and explore how a keto diet is good for your skin. So let’s dive right in!
Reduces inflammation
Our blood sugar levels increase after eating carbs, especially those high in sugar, and our body creates more insulin to turn glucose into energy. Inflammation is a drawback of this process brought on by insulin. So, by reducing your intake of simple carbs with a low-carb ketogenic diet, you are lowering your insulin production and risk of body-wide inflammation.
Increased insulin levels cause your skin to become inflamed and red, resulting in other skin problems like eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
A low-carb diet’s sound anti-inflammatory effects can help your skin, resulting in less redness and a healthier appearance. In addition, eating less sugar and carbs is a win-win because doing so will make your skin seem younger and more luminous. As an alternative to sugar, you can try products such as Splenda, as explained on this site.
Reduction in oxidative stress
The synthesis of ketones during ketosis can prevent the body from producing free radicals, also known as reactive oxygen species.
The harmful molecules known as free radicals lead to oxidative stress, which harms your body’s capacity to fight off pollutants. This can result in a buildup of toxins throughout the body, resulting in more severe health issues, breakouts, inflammation, and other skin imperfections.
To minimize oxidative stress and enhance your general health, many experts may advise you to try a detox for clear skin, which will contain meals substantial in antioxidants. The ketogenic diet can support this.
When you quit consuming carbohydrates, your body runs on ketones, and your liver creates more glutathione, a potent antioxidant, when you enter a state of ketosis. A ketogenic diet’s increased glutathione levels can help combat free radicals, safeguard your skin’s collagen and elastin resources, lessen pigmentation and age spots, and even prevent psoriasis.
Due to its many advantages for the skin and your general health, glutathione is frequently referred to as the “mother of all antioxidants.”
Reduces bouts of acne
If you have ever experienced acne, whether it was a problem during your teenage years or very recently, you are aware of its negative impact on your self-esteem. Acne is one of the more upsetting and embarrassing skin conditions to deal with because it frequently results in outbreaks, greasy-looking skin, and blocked pores from a buildup of oil and sebum.
Because the keto diet can help with acne-related issues, many people adore this eating style.
We now understand that eating fewer carbohydrates causes your body to produce less insulin. Reducing your insulin levels with a low-carb diet can help with acne symptoms because insulin is linked to acne, inflammation, and outbreaks. Eating more fats and fewer carbohydrates can help clear up acne, by lowering the accumulation of oil, sebum, and bacteria, clearing clogged pores, reducing inflammation and redness, and decreasing the frequency of acne outbreaks and blemishes.
Of course, no diet is perfect, and not everyone who follows a ketogenic diet will see these acne-reducing benefits. You will need to figure out what items within the keto diet are ideal for you. This is because some people discover that consuming too much fat, mainly from dairy products, can lead to acne outbreaks on their skin. If you compare the lipids in the cream, butter, and cheese to those in fish, meat, and eggs, you might find that the latter is more effective at decreasing acne.
More production of collagen
The collagen protein makes up our skin’s structure and keeps it elastic, smooth, and free of wrinkles. Unfortunately, our bodies create less collagen as we age, which causes the natural
aging of our skin. Fortunately, there are strategies to maintain the collagen levels in our skin, including foods high in collagen, antioxidants, and healthy fats in our diets.
Numerous ketogenic diet-related items can help your body produce collagen. This is because foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, good fats, and collagen, such as fish, chicken, eggs, and avocados, are commonly included in ketogenic diets.
A particularly excellent source of collagen for your skin, hair, and nails is hen eggs, fatty fish, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and berries. A substantial correlation between avocado and type II collagen, which is particularly beneficial for your joints and muscles, has also been found by researchers.
Therefore, your skin may experience some skin-plumping anti-aging advantages if you adhere to the keto diet and consume a broad mix of these collagen-rich foods and healthy fats, such as thicker, more flexible skin, fewer fine lines and wrinkles, and improved brightness.
Potential reduction in the risk of developing cancer
According to some research, the glycolysis process, which is how our body turns glucose into energy, is connected to the formation of cancer cells.
In keto, the glycolysis process is avoided, and your body uses fats rather than glucose for energy. The keto diet pushes your body into ketosis, in which the liver turns fat cells into energy. This reduction in glycolysis raises the possibility that low-carb ketogenic diets may aid in the inhibition of tumor growth.
Cutting out carbohydrates and eating just fats and protein could lower your risk of developing cancer in your skin. For people who already have cancer, the keto diet may be combined with chemotherapeutic and radiation treatments.
As previously stated, the keto diet also lessens oxidative stress in the body, which can diminish the danger of cancer cells growing. A varied diet rich in healthy foods and antioxidants is one of the best strategies to shield your skin and body against carcinogens.
The keto rash
Prurigo pigmentosa, also termed keto rash, is one of the unfavorable side effects at the beginning of ketosis. It subsequently causes the skin to become sensitive and itchy.
It is a network of red, itchy bumps and spots that can appear on the skin due to the unusual form of dermatitis known as prurigo pigmentosa. These rashes often don’t affect the face; instead, they typically involve the upper half of the body, including the neck, chest, and back.
It has been linked to the ketosis state since these people are more likely to have it than those who fast or have diabetes. Hence, “keto rash,” the nickname!
Fortunately, not everyone who follows a ketogenic diet will develop keto rash. However, if you do get an irritating rash, your treatment options may include:
∙ Keeping the skin moisturized.
∙ Refraining from touching the afflicted regions.
∙ Applying topical drugs as directed by a physician.
Can you combine anti-aging supplements with a keto diet?
A low-carb diet is just the start of what you must do if you desire youthful skin over the long run. By taking a collagen supplement, you may increase your collagen levels and support your skin from the inside out.
Hydrolyzed collagen peptides, which are shorter chain molecules that the body can quickly and easily absorb, are found in collagen supplements. Collagen supplements work by increasing your body’s natural levels of collagen to:
∙ Increase skin elasticity.
∙ Lift and tone sagging skin.
∙ Lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
∙ Additionally, they can benefit your joints, hair, and nails.
The good news is that if you’re considering a low-carb keto diet, it may help you lose weight and provide some anti-aging benefits for your skin.
The bottom line
In conclusion, whether you’re currently following the keto diet or are thinking about doing so, a growing body of data supports its efficacy as a method for losing weight and promoting general health. You could enhance your health by reducing your carbohydrate intake and placing more emphasis on fats and proteins. The stringent low-carb diet demands a lot of dedication
and effort, but if it fits your lifestyle, it may be worthwhile.
Fortunately, limiting carbs can also improve your complexion and is a fantastic addition to collagen supplementation. You’ll have to try the keto diet to see how it can improve your skin and overall health.
References:
-
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22327146/
-
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32074146/
-
https://www.elsevier.com/about/press-releases/research-and-journals/how-doketogenic-diets-affect-skin-inflammation
-
https://account.miamiherald.com/paywall/subscriberonly?resume=252847463&intcid=ab_archive https://dermcollective.com/keto-diet-for-the-skin/
-
https://www.healthshots.com/beauty/skin-care/can-the-low-carb-keto-diet-give-yougreat-skin-here-is-the-real-truth/
-
https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/this-is-how-the-keto-diet-affects-yourskin/news-story/703be9644238837852dd1873339b414a
**Disclaimer: All the views expressed in the content belongs to the writer. If you have any health issues please consult experts before following anything by yourself**
**SP**
