In this week’s podcast, we discuss how the ketogenic diet can improve heart health. The current heart healthy diet promoted by the American Heart Association is a low fat, high carb diet. This diet couldn’t be farther from “heart healthy” if it tried. A truly heart healthy diet provides adequate amounts of fat for the heart to use as fuel. A well formulated ketogenic diet is high in saturated fat which is the heart’s preferred fuel source. The heart is our bodies’ hardest working organ. It pumps blood 24/7 365 for our entire lives. So it’s crucial that it receives enough energy to do this job properly. The best and most efficient way to produce ATP, which is the fuel source used by our cells, is oxidative phosphorylation inside our mitochondria. Fat is only burned in this fashion inside the mitochondria. So it makes sense that the heart loves fat so much. To learn more about why a high fat ketogenic diet is heart healthy, listen to this week’s podcast. 

Studies Mentioned

High cholesterol may protect against infections and atherosclerosis

Cholesterol may act as an antioxidant in lens membranes

Comparison of isocaloric very low carbohydrate/high saturated fat and high carbohydrate/low saturated fat diets on body composition and cardiovascular risk

The cardiometabolic consequences of replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates or Ω-6 polyunsaturated fats: Do the dietary guidelines have it wrong

Low Carbohydrate Diet Decreases Myocardial Insulin Signaling and Increases Susceptibility to Myocardial Ischemia

Role of β-hydroxybutyrate, its polymer poly-β-hydroxybutyrate and inorganic polyphosphate in mammalian health and disease

Can an Animal-Based Diet Prevent Heart Attacks? – Part 2