It's true that a well-formulated, alkaline Ketogenic diet can significantly transform a person's health and offer a myriad of benefits such as effortless weight loss, improved health markers, stable blood sugars, better mental cognition, increased energy, hormone resetting, better sleep, improved gut health, and more. It's even been used to combat age-related diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. Now, there's new research that suggests that a Keto diet may even boost the immune system to help combat colds or the flu.
Keto Activates Specialized Immune Cells
A research team at Yale University studied two groups of mice that were administered a lethal dose of the influenza A virus: one group was fed a Keto diet and another that was fed a more standard diet. The Keto mice consistently survived and fared better overall while showing a stronger resistance to the influenza A virus.
The researchers discovered that a Keto diet appeared to activate genes that produce a specialized type of immune cells called gamma delta T cells. When tissue samples from the lungs of mice in the Keto group were examined, it was confirmed that they had higher levels of these T cells. The researchers suggested that these elevated levels of gamma delta T cells killed infected cells in the mice's lungs, and they also appeared to increase mucus production in the lungs, helping to trap more of the virus.
Further experiments confirmed that ketosis itself, rather than just a low-carb diet, seemed to be the triggering factor. They showed that mice fed a ketogenic diet and infected with the influenza virus had a higher survival rate than mice on a high-carb normal diet. Specifically, the researchers found that the Ketogenic diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produced mucus in the cell linings of the lungs and trapped the virus before it became worse— while the high-carbohydrate diet did not. The research team had shown that the Ketogenic diet also blocked formation of inflammasomes which can cause harmful immune system responses in their host. Thus, it was concluded that ketosis was somehow upregulating, or "turning on" these genes.
The researchers discovered that a Keto diet appeared to activate genes that produce a specialized type of immune cells called gamma delta T cells. When tissue samples from the lungs of mice in the Keto group were examined, it was confirmed that they had higher levels of these T cells. The researchers suggested that these elevated levels of gamma delta T cells killed infected cells in the mice's lungs, and they also appeared to increase mucus production in the lungs, helping to trap more of the virus.
Further experiments confirmed that ketosis itself, rather than just a low-carb diet, seemed to be the triggering factor. They showed that mice fed a ketogenic diet and infected with the influenza virus had a higher survival rate than mice on a high-carb normal diet. Specifically, the researchers found that the Ketogenic diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produced mucus in the cell linings of the lungs and trapped the virus before it became worse— while the high-carbohydrate diet did not. The research team had shown that the Ketogenic diet also blocked formation of inflammasomes which can cause harmful immune system responses in their host. Thus, it was concluded that ketosis was somehow upregulating, or "turning on" these genes.
'This study shows that the way the body burns fat to produce ketone bodies from the food we eat can fuel the immune system to fight flu infection.'
-Vishwa Deep Dixit, Waldemar Von Zedtwitz Professor of
Comparative Medicine and of Immunobiology.
While acknowledging that this research study was done on mice and not humans, we cannot automatically assume that the Ketogenic diet does in fact trigger T cell activation in people. However, a well-formulated Keto diet has been shown to significantly improve a person's overall health.
How Keto Can Boost Your Health
ELIMINATES PROCESSED SUGARS AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
Consumption of sugar-loaded or producing foods and artificial sweeteners are responsible for causing inflammation in your gut and may contribute to damage and malfunction. The Ketogenic diet strictly eliminates harmful sugars and artificial sweeteners, all grains, wheat, rice, pasta, potatoes, and beans, while limiting other carbs to reduce sugar levels in the bloodstream. Sugar has been demonstrated to inhibit the immune system for up to 6 hours and is detrimental to human health.
Consumption of sugar-loaded or producing foods and artificial sweeteners are responsible for causing inflammation in your gut and may contribute to damage and malfunction. The Ketogenic diet strictly eliminates harmful sugars and artificial sweeteners, all grains, wheat, rice, pasta, potatoes, and beans, while limiting other carbs to reduce sugar levels in the bloodstream. Sugar has been demonstrated to inhibit the immune system for up to 6 hours and is detrimental to human health.
INCREASES PROBIOTICS
A well-formulated Ketogenic diet promotes gut health and the consumption of naturally fermented vegetables and the use of probiotic supplements. These will supply the body with healthy gut bacteria called “probiotics”. Probiotics play a vital role in the removal of bacterial traces from your gut, and they speed up your gut’s cleansing mechanism. Eating fermented vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut, as well as supplementing your diet plan with recommended probiotics is more likely to eliminate harmful bacteria and replace it with healthy bacteria in your gut, which boosts your immune system.
A well-formulated Ketogenic diet promotes gut health and the consumption of naturally fermented vegetables and the use of probiotic supplements. These will supply the body with healthy gut bacteria called “probiotics”. Probiotics play a vital role in the removal of bacterial traces from your gut, and they speed up your gut’s cleansing mechanism. Eating fermented vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut, as well as supplementing your diet plan with recommended probiotics is more likely to eliminate harmful bacteria and replace it with healthy bacteria in your gut, which boosts your immune system.
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UPGRADES YOUR DIET
Maintaining a healthy diet plays an essential role in the maintenance of your gut flora. It could potentially improve or aggravate the condition and function of your gut. Adopting a Ketogenic diet is helpful because you will eliminate the consumption of saccharine-heavy food and replace it with items that are enriched with a moderate level of protein, high fat, and healthy carbohydrates. It promotes consumption of nourishing bone-broth and nutrient-dense foods in the form of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables, berries, lemons and limes, herbs, and high quality protein. It also promotes eating salmon and fish because their Omega 3 fatty acids which can instantly boost your immune system.
Maintaining a healthy diet plays an essential role in the maintenance of your gut flora. It could potentially improve or aggravate the condition and function of your gut. Adopting a Ketogenic diet is helpful because you will eliminate the consumption of saccharine-heavy food and replace it with items that are enriched with a moderate level of protein, high fat, and healthy carbohydrates. It promotes consumption of nourishing bone-broth and nutrient-dense foods in the form of green leafy and cruciferous vegetables, berries, lemons and limes, herbs, and high quality protein. It also promotes eating salmon and fish because their Omega 3 fatty acids which can instantly boost your immune system.
EAT BETTER QUALITY FOOD
A properly formulated Ketogenic diet promotes eating fresh organic whole foods whenever possible. Processed or commercial foods can aggravate and damage the condition of your gut and can contribute to Leaky Gut Syndrome. If you have poor gut flora, you should immediately eliminate ALL processed foods and start incorporating healthy Ketogenic foods into your diet plan. Converting your diet plan to organic may be challenging, but it will improve the condition of your gut flora in the long run. You’ll probably find that when you cut out processed foods and junk foods, there will be more money in your budget to put toward healthier options such as organic produce, grass-fed/pasture-raised meats, and wild caught seafood.
A properly formulated Ketogenic diet promotes eating fresh organic whole foods whenever possible. Processed or commercial foods can aggravate and damage the condition of your gut and can contribute to Leaky Gut Syndrome. If you have poor gut flora, you should immediately eliminate ALL processed foods and start incorporating healthy Ketogenic foods into your diet plan. Converting your diet plan to organic may be challenging, but it will improve the condition of your gut flora in the long run. You’ll probably find that when you cut out processed foods and junk foods, there will be more money in your budget to put toward healthier options such as organic produce, grass-fed/pasture-raised meats, and wild caught seafood.
INCORPORATES ORGANIC COCONUT OIL
The Ketogenic diet promotes high consumption of healthy fats including coconut oil because coconut oil promotes the production of ketones. In addition, coconut oil helps to maintain a healthy gut and support a stronger immune system because it has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It can prove beneficial in reducing the inflammation of your gut, and supporting healthy gut flora. Organic coconut oil is edible and can improve the overall condition of your gut and is great for your skin, hair, and nails!
The Ketogenic diet promotes high consumption of healthy fats including coconut oil because coconut oil promotes the production of ketones. In addition, coconut oil helps to maintain a healthy gut and support a stronger immune system because it has antibacterial and antiviral properties. It can prove beneficial in reducing the inflammation of your gut, and supporting healthy gut flora. Organic coconut oil is edible and can improve the overall condition of your gut and is great for your skin, hair, and nails!
What You Can Do?
While it has been demonstrated that a Ketogenic diet activated immune T cells in mice and helped them recover from influenza A virus, one can only speculate that this could be true for humans. Thousands of research studies on the Ketogenic diet illustrate its effectiveness for significantly improving a person's overall health ranging from weight loss to seizure control, to lowering blood pressure, to improving triglycerides, to better brain health. Being a diet that consists of cruciferous vegetables, leafy greens, berries, healthy fats, and quality protein, the question becomes, then, why not give Keto a try and see for yourself?
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