The ketogenic diet does not only help you lose pounds. What if I tell you that this particular eating regimen can also improve your brain function?
Although it sounds ridiculous, optimizing your mental faculties is one of the benefits of a keto. Before I started this diet three years ago, I always suffer from short-term memory and some mental gaps. It did affect my work.
My original intention why I engaged in the keto diet is rapid weight loss. However, when my body hit full ketosis, it also enlightened my brain!
In this guide, you will discover the five ways a ketogenic diet improves brain function. Let's get started.
Triggers Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
One of the most significant benefits of the keto diet is the production of ketones. But first, what are ketones anyway and how does it help our brain?
Your body has ketones, whether you are in a ketogenic diet or not. It is produced whenever during the process of fat breakdown whenever the carbohydrate content of your body is low.
The ketone serves as the alternative energy source since glucose is not already available. Remember that you don't have carbs in your diet anymore. It so happened that ketones have many benefits to the brain.
One of these is the brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF. The BDNF is a special type of protein that activates particular types of neurons to increase their survival. Furthermore, the BDNF also improves the production of new neural connections for these neurons.
Ketones are said to trigger the BDNF. When BDNF manifests, memory, learning, and other critical thinking skills will be thoroughly improved.
Migraine Relief
You can't think well if you have a migraine and severe headaches, right? Well, with a ketogenic diet, this problem can be adequately addressed.
There are various assumptions as to why migraines exist. One of these is chronic inflammation. Well, of course, this particular inflammation causes headaches and unwanted sensations in the head.
When you are in a ketogenic diet, these inflammations are effectively curbed down. Although the evidence for this is not yet as substantial as it seems, the ketogenic diet is deemed to cause significant improvements in the symptoms of headaches and migraines.
Lowers the Risk Factor of Alzheimer
We all know that once the Alzheimer's disease kicks in, reverting its effects is nigh impossible already. A person who is in this condition has an insulin-resistant brain. It is thought that when your brain cells have insulin resistance, they become inflamed.
As what I have stated, inflammation in the brain causes headaches and migraines. Furthermore, it can also result in the weakening of memory. When these symptoms worsen, they could lead to Alzheimer and dementia.
Again, ketones can help you stop these problems. Even without insulin, ketones can penetrate to any brain cells. It is also a good thing to know that most of the brains in our body-including brain cells-are capable of metabolizing ketones.
Ketones can regulate the production and function of healthy brain cells. Therefore, a ketogenic diet can also act as a potential defense against these irreversible diseases.
Prevents Depression
Depression is one of the most prevalent mental problems today. Please take note that it is a psychological problem, not an emotional one. It lies in your head, and multiple reasons can cause it.
Neural inflammation and neurotoxicity are said to contribute to the birth of depression. These things have to be addressed if a person doesn't want to fall to the dark pit of despair.
Noticeably, people who are doing the ketogenic diet are least susceptible to mood swings and anxieties. After all, ketones can mitigate and regulate those issues that I have mentioned earlier.
Of course, one should know that ketones are not a cure for emotional scars and post-traumatic disorders. It just helps people to regain their calm and composure. That's already enough to recover for whatever mental stresses that they are suffering.
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Maintains Healthy Brain Cells
Specific types of ketones are capable of energizing the cells of your brain. Notably, the beta-hydroxybutyrate is said to be a better source of energy than of glucose.
The enhanced production of ketone ensures that every aging brain cell has enough supply of oxygen to keep it healthy. Naturally, these cells utilize glucose as their fuel. However, once they get old, their ability to do this is drastically reduced.
As stated earlier, ketones can be processed by our brain cells, regardless of its age. It is one of the reasons why it is more energy-efficient compared to glucose.
Wrapping It Up
The ketogenic diet does not only help a person lose weight. It is also a practical approach to optimize overall health. The diet can make you healthy and resistant to various diseases.
Furthermore, with the massive release of ketones, your brain also benefits from the diet. It can heighten your concentration and ensure that your brain cells are adequately taken care of. Conditions like dementia and depression are also prevented by it
Trying the ketogenic diet to reap these perks is indeed a not a bad idea. In fact, it will become leverage on your part as it makes you a brighter person.
That's it for now. If you have some questions or suggestions, just drop them in the comment section below.
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