How High-Fat Keto Diets Might Influence Cancer Risk

Could the ketogenic diet (low-carb and high-fat) actually help in preventing cancer? A recent study conducted by the British Columbia Hospital in Canada, with findings published in Scientific Reports, has provided new evidence that may support the anti-cancer effects of the keto diet.

In recent years, many have turned to the ketogenic diet, where the body uses fat instead of glucose for energy - and it turns out that, scientifically, it might be proving its effectiveness. Researchers, who explored potential benefits of carb restriction in chronic conditions like cancer, found that this diet could indeed inhibit cancer cell growth.

Furthermore, the study highlighted the importance of fat type in this diet, suggesting that healthier fats (like those from plant sources such as avocado) should be preferred over fried foods.

The intriguing research examined seven different high-fat keto diets. These were compared to a standard Western diet and another diet containing 15% carbohydrate. Fats studied included dairy fat, palm oil, olive oil, corn oil, and fish oil, aiming to determine how each type affects cancer prevention efficacy within the keto diet. Health markers such as nighttime blood glucose levels, cholesterol, alanine levels, and liver and lung tissue health were also analyzed.

It was found that keto diets, regardless of the fats included, are more effective in preventing cancerous nodules in the lungs, for example, than Mediterranean or Western diets. Even a diet comprising 15% carbohydrates did not prove effective in this context.

Due to its richness in fish oil containing omega-3 fatty acids, the keto diet proved effective in preventing and reducing cancer cell lumps. Dr. Daniel Landau, a certified oncologist and hematologist, mentioned in an interview that while research on the connection between the keto diet and cancer development is still ongoing, "several completed studies definitely point to certain benefits," he said. One theory is that every cell in the human body needs sugar, and it's known that various cancers demand sugar disproportionately to grow. "Limiting excess sugar could offer benefits in cancer prevention or treatment," he explains.

A dietitian named Kiran Campbell explains that the metabolic changes triggered by the keto diet in the body also limit insulin and insulin-like growth factors that encourage cancer cell growth. Therefore, she concludes, limiting carbohydrates in our diet might protect against cancer.