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A group of researchers revealed that women who stuck to a ketogenic diet increased their chances of getting pregnant. This nutritional pattern is used even by celebrities due to weight loss and its anti-inflammatory power. since it prioritizes the consumption of healthy fats and avoids carbohydrates.
The study indicates that the diet can reduce testosterone levels in women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome. This disease affects six million women in the United States and is a leading cause of infertility. Too much testosterone interferes with the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries, making pregnancy difficult.
The Ministry of Health of Malaysia, where the research was carried out, indicated that the association between the ketogenic diet and improving reproductive hormone levels. An advance for medicine since doctors who care for women with this syndrome must also take nutritional recommendations into account.
The reproductive hormones that were analyzed were testosterone, progesterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, the latter being important in both sexes when talking about reproduction. Women who followed the diet for 45 days lost 11% of their body weight and saw improvements in their hormonal balance.
What is the ketogenic diet?
The ketogenic nutritional plan contains low amounts of carbohydrates, this means that people have fewer blood sugar spikes. Reducing these alterations has the benefit of blood regulation and hormonal production. In addition, it forces the body to produce ketones in the liver to use them as energy.
The diet allows meat, fish, poultry and eggs; Also the consumption of non-starchy vegetables and green leaves, organic or whole milk. The nutritional plan limits the amount of added sugars, refined white carbohydrates and only allows a small amount of fruit.
Excessive consumption of carbohydrates causes the body to produce glucose and insulin. The latter is produced to process the former into the bloodstream, carrying it throughout the body. Because the body uses glucose as primary energy, it ends up storing fats since they are not necessary.
The goal of the ketogenic diet is to induce the body into a state known as ketosis, a natural process that helps humans survive when food consumption is low. The body produces ketones from the breakdown of fats in the liver, which makes them the main source of energy.
Less carbohydrates
However, experts indicate that low-carbohydrate diets increase the risk of heart disease and cancer from eating too much fat and protein.
For this reason, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicates that the ketogenic diet is contraindicated for patients with diabetes who take insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents. People with this condition may experience severe hypoglycemia if medications are not adjusted before starting this type of nutritional plan. It is also not recommended for those who suffer from pancreatitis, liver failure and fat metabolism disorders.
It is best to go to the doctor if you want to change to this type of diet. In the case of overweight people, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, clinical markers of the disease can improve. Contributes to weight loss, glucose control and improvement of insulin sensitivity and blood pressure.
Regarding neurological disorders, the ketogenic diet may have benefits in diseases such as epilepsy, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and acne.
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