It's well known in the medical field (cardiology), and the health field (educated ones). If you go to any cardiac rehab facility in america, you'll find everyone is teaching a low saturated fat diet,
Oh, this I know.
and a patient that attends cardiac rehab will live longer than heart patients that do not, and have less cardiac events.
That's because they lose weight with all the follow-up. You said yourself that it's the weight-loss that brings about the improvement, no matter what the diet. So even an inferior diet will bring about improvement.
Additionally, it's well established that vegetarians have the lowest risk factors compared to any group. Look it up.
This is contrary to what I have read, actually.
I actually did my masters thesis on a vege diet and risk factor reduction, and have over 20 studies to cite on the effects of a vege diet on bp, cholesterol, and diabetes. Dr. ornish published the "lyon heart study" in which he reversed heart disease in cardiac patients that were candidates for bypass. This had never been done in medical history, before that all we could do is slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.
If you question the american dietitic association, then you are basically stating that Registered dieticians don't know what they're talking about.
That's right, I am. I have yet to speak to an RD whom I would trust with a friend, and I say this with some sadness because as a scientist, it pains me to think the people who really SHOULD know better so often don't.
RD's are the experts, with the proper education to give nutrition counseling.
I'm not interested, or in a position to debate a keto diet to a vege diet, I'm ignorant about a keto diet. But, I do know the science behind lowering cholesterol, bp and diabetes through a vege diet is very strong. This does not mean that a keto can't do it as well, I'm just unaware of it. I consider myself an objective person, so I appreciate you sharing that info with me, I will read them.
Thank you for this; I appreciate the academic interest and genuine curiosity more than you can possibly know. I am aware that many people find good health through vegetarian diets. I am consistently fascinated by the myriad dietary paradigms that seem to be effective for so many people.
Keto diets are interesting. They have so many benefits, it's hard to just pick one.
Here's a really good full text article on their myriad benefits:
Neuroprotective and disease-modifying effects of the ketogenic diet
Gasior, Maciej; Rogawski, Michael A.; Hartman, Adam L.
Behavioural Pharmacology. 17(5-6):431-439, September 2006
Abstract
The ketogenic diet has been in clinical use for over 80 years, primarily for the symptomatic treatment of epilepsy. A recent clinical study has raised the possibility that exposure to the ketogenic diet may confer long-lasting therapeutic benefits for patients with epilepsy. Moreover, there is evidence from uncontrolled clinical trials and studies in animal models that the ketogenic diet can provide symptomatic and disease-modifying activity in a broad range of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and may also be protective in traumatic brain injury and stroke. These observations are supported by studies in animal models and isolated cells that show that ketone bodies, especially β-hydroxybutyrate, confer neuroprotection against diverse types of cellular injury. This review summarizes the experimental, epidemiological and clinical evidence indicating that the ketogenic diet could have beneficial effects in a broad range of brain disorders characterized by the death of neurons. Although the mechanisms are not yet well defined, it is plausible that neuroprotection results from enhanced neuronal energy reserves, which improve the ability of neurons to resist metabolic challenges, and possibly through other actions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. As the underlying mechanisms become better understood, it will be possible to develop alternative strategies that produce similar or even improved therapeutic effects without the need for exposure to an unpalatable and unhealthy, high-fat diet.
The last sentence in the abstract cracked me up:
"As the underlying mechanisms become better understood, it will be possible to develop alternative strategies that produce similar or even improved therapeutic effects without the need for exposure to an unpalatable and unhealthy, high-fat diet."
If my high-fat diet were unhealthy, you'd think I'd be less healthy now that I've been on it for ten years. And it's hardly unpalatable: my breakfast this morning was steak fried in bacon fat, eggs scrambled with butter, whipping cream and cheese, and broccoli pureed with cashews, 10% butterfat yogurt, and butter.
Seriously, my high-fat diet is delicious.
I'm 48 years old and until I changed from a low-fat to a high-fat diet ten years ago, I was was fat and on metformin. Now, I'm sub-20% bodyfat year-round (don't hate, I'm female and that's healthy-to-athletic lean for us) with normal blood sugar and a low, healthy lipid profile. No Lipitor.
I don't always only eat a low-carb, high-fat diet - I have been known to eat the odd sweet potato or some rice pudding, but not often and certainly not daily. Starches and sweets for me are infrequent and kept very, very low. About the only regular indiscretion is a few squares of Lindt chocolate most days at bedtime.
By the way, I had long wondered why both the Atkins' and Ornish approaches could produce such similar results - until I listened to this lecture by Robert H. Lustig, MD, UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology:
It's long, but I promise you it's worth it.
In the first few minutes, he drops this bomb: What do the Atkins diet and the Japanese diet have in common? They both lower heart disease. The Atkins diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrate. The Japanese diet is low in fat and high in carbohydrate - much like the Ornish diet.
This has driven me nuts for years.
The link? Fructose. Both diets dramatically reduce fructose consumption.
Interesting, isn't it?
