The Keto Diet May Be Bad For Your Heart

ByJulia Manuel

Jun 15, 2018 07:09 AM EDT

Keto Diet is one of those that has gained a following after many have sworn by it. However, it might be time to learn more about this controversial high-fat diet after several claims of its effect on the heart.

While other diets require one to eat less of the fatty food and more on fibers, Ketogenic, or simply Keto Diet, is nothing like that. This popular yet controversial means of eating relies on high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carbohydrate food. This means that people who adhere to this program uses the energy from fat instead of carbs.

Keto Diet is famous basically because it helps those who want to lose weight without having to give up a lot of the juicy stuff, literally, such as bacon, cheese, and many more. In short, this doesn't feel like sacrificing a lot of the yummy treats at all since all kinds of fat is invited.

Study On High-Protein Intake

But while many have seen the effects of this in weight loss success stories, it may be high time to contemplate if it's worth joining the bandwagon. A study from the University of Eastern Finland found out that those who eat more protein have increased by 33 percent their chances of getting a heart failure. That's a staggering number, which means the Keto Diet might be jeopardizing one's heart.

The researchers further delve in the sources of protein consumed by the 2,500 42- to 60-year-old men participants for 22 years. Those who get much of their protein intake from animals had 43 percent higher risk of heart failure than those who consume lesser protein.

Those who get protein from dairy had an increased heart failure chance of 49 percent, while from plants, 17 percent. Experts weighed in on consummation of high protein and say it makes for a less balanced diet.

"Persons who consume high-protein diets become satiated quickly and often forego the other nutrients derived from 'heart-healthy' diets, including vegetables, legumes, whole grains," Northwell Health's Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital's Dr. Benjamin J. Hirsh explained.

Kinds Of Fat

Furthermore, high-protein food, such as red meat and dairy all under the Keto Diet, contain a lot of saturated fats. There are three kinds of this, saturated, unsaturated, and trans fat.

Dr. Luiza Petre explains the worst of the three is the trans fat, which should be always avoided. The unsaturated fats are the healthy ones, found on plants, while saturated fats are found in animal products.

She further stressed that as with any other diet, moderation is the key. In Keto Diet, she recommends a meek 10 percent of saturated fats of the daily calorie intake. What this only mean is that one needs to choose wisely of the many food rich in fat.

Jennifer Haythe, a cardiologist, meanwhile, said that there aren't enough studies to prove that Keto Diet is really bad for the heart. Instead, she underlined that diets that require too much restrictions are harder to adhere with.

Varying Claims

On the other hand, Petre believes that Keto Diet is good for the heart because of weight loss and when done under the supervision of an expert. Moreover, she stressed that she still considers sugar as more harmful than fat. This just proves that more and more medical practitioners have varying beliefs when it comes to this program.