Is the keto diet heart healthy?

Cameron Thomasson, NP

Cardiology

Many people are jumping on the keto diet bandwagon, which has been hailed as a way to lose weight quickly. But is the keto diet heart healthy? Is it beneficial for those who have heart conditions or may develop them? Cameron Thomasson, ACNP, explained what you need to know, especially if you’re at risk for heart disease.

What is the keto diet?

The ketogenic diet is a plan that focuses on high-fat, low-carbohydrate food. It was originally implemented for patients with epilepsy to help control and reduce the number of seizures they were having by lowering their sugar intake.

Is the keto diet heart healthy?

“The keto diet is being well marketed right now for those who may have risk factors for heart disease, primarily as a driver for weight loss. However, the keto diet is associated with a higher consumption of saturated fat, which increases the risk of heart disease,” Thomasson said.

Eating food with saturated fat increases the “bad cholesterol,” also known as LDL, and contributes to the development of diabetes, kidney disease and cancer.

“Keto is something that should be utilized with caution,” Thomasson added. “Be sure to check with your doctor first.”

What’s the best diet for improving heart health?

It seems like there are always trendy new diets claiming to help you lose weight quickly or improve your health. There are just two diet plans that rise to the top for heart health: the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. Both have been shown to reduce heart disease in multiple studies and are relatively easy to follow.

• The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, as well as high fiber, low processed foods. “People who may have coronary disease who need to focus on lowering their cholesterol would benefit greatly from the Mediterranean diet,” Thomasson said.

• The DASH diet is a dietary approach against hypertension (high blood pressure), which ultimately focuses on a low sodium intake.

“If you don’t have heart disease or high cholesterol and you just want a diet that works well for your generalized health, the Mediterranean diet is typically the best,” Thomasson said.