A DIET favoured by celebrities could be increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease, a new study warns.
The ketogenic diet is said to cause rapid weight loss but now scientists have warned it could damage your heart.
GettyThe ketogenic diet has been linked to increased bad cholesterol impacting heart health[/caption]
Kim Kardashian, notorious for trying out the latest dieting trends, reportedly lost a whopping 60 pounds from the keto diet after having her son Saint.
And speaking on Instagram, Kourtney Kardashian revealed her doctor put her on the diet to help her detox.
The reality start admitted: “My body never looked better than when I did the keto diet.”
Other celebrities said to be fans of the keto way of life include Megan Fox, Gwyneth Paltrow, LeBron James, Halle Berry, Adriana Lima, and Vanessa Hudgens.
But now, a team of researchers at the University of British Columbia, have warned those on the strict diet were twice as likely to suffer heart attacks, strokes, and blocked arteries compared to those who don’t follow it.
The scientists analysed data from the UK Biobank to further investigate those following the keto diet and the link to poor heart health.
They suggested the diet’s high levels of bad cholesterol otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), could be to blame.
High LDL cholesterol is where a fatty substance called cholesterol builds up in your blood.
If your cholesterol is high, it can block your blood vessels, which increases the risk of heart attack or stroke.
In the UK, there are around 7.6 million people living with cardiovascular disease with roughly 121 million US adults suffering from the disease.
Dr Iulia latan, a physician who led the study at the University of British Columbia’s Center for Heart Lung Innovation said: “Among the participants on a low-calorie high-fat [keto-like] diet, we found that those with the highest levels of LDL cholesterol were at the highest risk for a cardiovascular event.”
Previous research on how the keto diet affects a person’s heart has been conflicting with some studies claiming it can in fact improve cardiovascular health while others point out the dangerous influx of LDL cholesterol can have a detrimental effect.
Signs of heart disease
According to the British Heart Foundation, early symptoms to be aware of include:
1. Chest pain
2. Feeling sick
3. Stomach pain
4. Leg pain
5. Feeling sweaty
6. Arm, jaw, or back pain
7. Swollen ankles
8. Choking sensation
9. Extreme fatigue
10. Irregular heartbeat.
How to lower your risk of heart disease
The NHS lists a number of ways to help reduce heart disease risk which include:
1. Be more physically fit
2. Keep to a healthy weight
3. Give up smoking
4. Reduce your alcohol consumption
5. Keep your blood pressure under control
6. Keep your diabetes under control
7. Take any prescribed medicine
What is the Keto diet?
The ketogenic diet involves significantly reducing the number of carbohydrates consumed and replacing them with fat.
A lack of carbohydrates means less glucose in the body resulting in more fat being burnt instead of carbohydrates causing rapid weight loss.
Foods to include on the keto diet include meat, fish, poultry, non-starchy vegetables, high-fat foods, high-fat dairy, eggs, oils, nuts, and seeds.
Foods to steer clear from include high-carb foods, grains, baked goods, sweet sauces, juices, sodas, and alcohol.