LET’S EAT: Cardiologist adds caveat to ketogenic diet
May 10, 2019 • 1 min read
Switching to a ketogenic diet is a proven winner when it comes to losing weight. But is the high volume of fat that keto dieters must consume to tip their bodies into ketosis (when the body burns fat for energy) inviting other health risks?
Leading cardiologist and past president of the American College of Cardiology Dr. Kim Williams thinks so – but only when keto dieters get most of their fat and protein from animals. Which is why he’s added a caveat: “If you’re doing a ketogenic diet with plants, it is not unsafe.” Let’s call it safe.
Love animals, but never eat a whole one
“No one should be doing a ketogenic diet with animal products,” Dr Williams said.
So, what’s the problem with eating animals?
The good doc went on: “When you’re not adding plaque and cholesterol, and heme iron, trimethylamine, and IGF-1 in large quantities – and all of the other things that happen when you’re eating an animal-based diet – you would have a good long-term outcome. So maybe a ketogenic diet would be OK. As long as you’re not eating animals.”
Bottom line: Getting most of your energy from fats and protein in meat, cheese, butter, and milk increases your risk of heart disease and cancers.
Video: Dr. Kim Williams explains his caveat.