We are living in a time where fad diets are a common part of health cultures; It seems as if there is a new trend every day! There are diets to tell us what will help you lose those kiloswhich will help with certain ailments such as memory loss, the list goes on. And now, thanks to a new study, it has been discovered that there are even diets to help fight certain types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer.
A recent study of The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) suggests that the ketogenic diet (also known as keto) may help kill pancreatic cancer cells by promoting positive results in chemotherapy.
Laboratory experiments showed that the ketogenic diet lowered glucose (sugar) levels in the tumor, suggesting that the diet helped starve the cancer. The diet also elevated ketone bodies produced by the liver (small water molecules that are used as an energy source when glucose is not readily available), putting additional stress on cancer cells.
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According to the study, the ketogenic diet created a microenvironment in which a TGen-designed triple-drug therapy, a combination of gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and cisplatin, was more effective at killing the tumor and thus destabilizing cancer cells .
“By limiting glucose availability, the ketogenic diet may promote the efficacy of chemotherapy,” said TGen Professor Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD in the recent study overview.
Furthermore, the ketogenic diet was shown to have a beneficial impact on anti-tumor immunity by inducing the expression of pro-inflammatory tumor genes, further weakening the cancer.
If you’re not familiar, the ketogenic diet consists of foods low carb and high in protein and fat. The diet forces your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates, causing you to lose weight quickly. However, due to the excessive amount of protein and lower carbohydrate intake, the ketogenic diet could cause problems such as low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies, and an increased risk of heart disease.
If you’re thinking of starting the ketogenic diet, be sure to take note of these 7 Warning Signs You Should Stop Ketogenic Diet Immediately.
