https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/ketosis-ketogenic-diets-misleading/
Umm...getting a bad feeling about this organisation and their scientific credibility.
The linked page debunks keto as a diet, having first supplied its own definition which excludes beans and pulses. I eat beans and pulses and stay in ketosis. It claims keto diets exclude milk (but doesn't seem to mention double cream or cheese which are also dairy products).
I am having trouble copying and pasting, but it claims your brain requires dietary carbohydrate to function.
We know this is untrue.
The parts (and only parts) of the brain which require glucose to function can be supplied by gluconeogenesis.
Otherwise people on long term fasts would die from lack of glucose.
Edit: Well, I've tried to persevere with the "debunking" of keto diets but have come close to "shouting at the Internet".
The whole thing is a straw man exercise. State an incorrect hypothesis about keto diets and then proceed to debunk the incorrect hypothesis thus "proving your point".
The misinformation (lies?) about the role of glucose in the brain is the one which strikes me most.
First, dietary glucose is "essential" for brain function.
Second, in the absence of dietary glucose the liver generates an emergency source of energy for the brain, ketones.
As noted above there are parts (but only parts) of the brain which require glucose. Much of the brain can obtain energy from ketones but for certain areas ketones cannot pass the blood/brain barrier and glucose is required. However this can be generated from fats and proteins by gluconeogenesis (if my shaky education holds up, gluco (glucose) neo (new) genesis (creation) or creation of new glucose by the body).
The role of insulin, and the keto view of it, is also very "straw man". Suggesting that anyone on a keto diet regards "any insulin as bad" is wildly inaccurate.
The debunkathon also doesn't seem to mention the role of insulin in fat storage.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/insulin.html
INSULIN AND FAT STORAGE
As well as being involved in the regulation of blood glucose, insulin is also involved in how fat is used by the body. When the liver is has taken up its capacity of glycoge, insulin signals fat cells to take up glucose to be stored as triglycerides.
An additional effect of insulin is in inhibiting the breakdown of fats.
As far as I understand it insulin prompts the cells to take up glucose, firstly store it as glycogen, then when full the fat cells are prompted to take up the excess glucose and convert it to triglycerides and store it. As fat.
Which leads to the conclusion that insulin stores excess carbohydrates as fat.
Sigh.
The long term effects of a keto diet are also pretty weird.
Side Effects of Ketogenic Diets
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Acid reflux
- Hair loss
- Kidney stones
- Muscle cramps or weakness
- Hypoglycemia
- Low platelet count
- Impaired cognition
- Inability to concentrate
- Impaired mood
- Renal tubular acidosis
- Disordered mineral metabolism
- Stunted growth in children
- Increased risk for bone fractures
- Osteopenia and Osteoporosis
- Increased bruising
- Sepsis
- Pneumonia
- Acute pancreatitis
- Hyperlipidemia
- High cholesterol
- Insulin resistance
- Elevated cortisol
- Increased risk for cardiovascular disease
- Increased risk for atherosclerosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Heart arrythmia
- Myocardial infarction
- Menstrual irregularities
- Amenorrhea (loss of period)
- Increased risk for all-cause mortality
I am sure that all long term adherents to a ketogenic diet are suffering from most (if not all) of these symptoms. {Sarcasm for those not UK based}.
I am afraid that at this point I regard the debunking page as scientifically doubtful and morally very doubtful.
Looks remarkably like a money making scheme based on faux science.