According to a new study, a ketogenic diet could have a place in the military to help combat the ongoing problem of obesity — a challenge in terms of both recruiting soldiers and helping them stay healthy and fit for service. Researchers at The Ohio State University followed 29 people for three months. Most of the participants were members of the campus ROTC.
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During the three-month time period, 15 of the participants followed a ketogenic diet, while 14 of the participants continued to eat their regular diet. Results showed that those on the keto diet lost an average of nearly 17 pounds and were able to maintain ketosis for 12 weeks, with the support of counselors. The keto group lost more than 5% of their body fat, almost 44% of their visceral fat and had a 48% improvement in insulin sensitivity.
In comparison, the participants who continued with their regular meal regimens consumed diets that comprised at least 40% carbohydrates, based on food diaries they kept. They did not experience any of the changes that the keto group did.
Richard LaFountain, a researcher in the effects of food and disease at OSU , said about 7 in 10 people who are otherwise eligible to enter military service in the United States are considered unfit because of their weight. As the largest published study of a ketogenic diet in military personnel, researchers believe the results showed promise in helping military personnel lose weight by eating differently — not by counting calories, which would be very difficult to do while in training or on active duty.
While weight loss and fat loss are two very important benefits of the ketogenic diet, that’s not all keto is good for. In addition to lowering your risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes and other serious health conditions, health benefits of the ketogenic diet include:
• Fighting inflammation — The human body can use both sugar and fat as fuel sources. By eliminating sugar from your daily food consumption, you're decreasing your risk of developing chronic inflammation throughout your body.
• Increasing muscle mass — Ketones have a similar structure to branched chain amino acids that can be useful for building muscle mass. Ketones spare these amino acids, leaving higher levels of them around, which can help promote muscle mass.
• Reducing appetite — Constant hunger can cause you to consume more calories than you can burn, which can eventually lead to weight gain. A ketogenic diet can help you avoid this problem because reducing carbohydrate consumption can reduce hunger symptoms.
• Lowering insulin levels — When you consume carbs, they are broken down into sugars in your body. In turn, this causes your blood sugar levels to rise and leads to a spike in your insulin. Over time, you may develop insulin resistance, which can progress to Type 2 diabetes.