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The brain is a high-energy organ that requires an adequate supply of nutrients to function effectively. The ketogenic diet (a low-carb diet) has shown positive results in weight loss and is now being used to alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), epilepsy, and other ailments. But many people are now investigating its effectiveness in fighting brain cancer.
Here are some ways how ketogenic diet can help with brain tumours:
- Ketogenic diet can help to protect cells from damage
- Ketogenic diet can promote brain growth
- Ketogenic diet can help to repair damaged brain cells
The ketogenic diet compels the body to burn fat instead of carbs. Ketones are produced as a result of this process, and they supply energy to the body and brain. Because the brain can only use glucose as an energy source. When blood sugar levels are high enough, people who follow this diet may first feel weary or fatigued as their brains adjust to using ketones instead of glucose. The process of producing ketones from fatty acids is disrupted in tumour cells, forcing them to rely on glucose for energy. As a result, tumour cells are unable to use fat as a source of energy, and their rate of growth slows.
The ketogenic diet is not a cure for brain tumours, but it may help to improve the quality of life by reducing pain, inflammation levels and potentially increasing survival rates. It can also reduce adverse effects from chemotherapy drugs like nausea and constipation by lowering blood sugar levels.
Ketogenic diets are not only about losing weight. Studies show that some cancer cells cannot thrive in the presence of ketones. Although brain tumours need sugar to function, they can only metabolise glucose and not ketones. This is why a keto diet may potentially be an effective treatment for brain tumours.
This theory does, however, have certain limitations. Because research on how ketogenic diets impact cancer patients is constrained, it is unclear whether they would be beneficial for all types of cancers. The ketogenic diet is not ideal for all people. Before beginning this diet, it is important to speak with a healthcare professional because it can interact negatively with some medications.
According to a recent study published in the online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology on July 7, 2021, a modified ketogenic diet (low in carbs and high in fat) can be appropriate for people with brain tumours. The data shows that this diet has a major impact on the brain and body's metabolic processes. However, further research is needed to determine whether this diet can help people live longer by preventing brain tumour growth.
The ketogenic diet has helped in the fight against cancer cells in the body, but more research on how it affects brain tumours is needed. According to reports, losing weight and lowering insulin levels, both of which are targets of the keto diet, increase the chances of remission from some types of cancer. Further studies need to be done before the ketogenic diet can definitively claim its efficacy as a method for fighting brain cancer.