It's hard to say. The diet works well for some people, but doctors remain sceptical. Despite the warnings, it's not all bad, though. "Keto diets are low in refined grains, added sugar, and processed carbs — all good for cardiovascular health," Dr. Harkin said. However, she still believes that "a better alternative is a whole-food, plant-based diet, which may even reverse cardiovascular disease."
Dr. Stamp concurred, noting that "there isn't a lot of science to show that a ketogenic diet prolongs your life at the moment, although that can be hard to show in nutritional studies." She too believes that both the DASH diet and Mediterranean diet boast "the best evidence for protecting your heart."
"If someone has no history of high cholesterol or family history of cardiovascular disease, and they'd like to attempt the ketogenic diet in the short term to jump-start some weight loss, there are ways to make healthier choices," Dr. Harkin added. "Focus on the allowable low-carb veggies and fruits (like leafy greens, broccoli, avocado, and berries), nuts and seeds, and tofu."
Dr. Harkin noted that she still would not recommend the keto diet for long-term use. "For the best long-term diet, my advice is to ditch the processed carbs as the ketogenic diet recommends, but don't miss out on all of the antioxidants, fibre, and phytonutrients found in the whole range of fruits, legumes, whole grains, and starchy vegetables."
And though she believes it may be an effective way to lose weight when done correctly, Bates doesn't personally recommend the diet to her clients, either. "I'm not a keto promoter because I think it's very difficult to do well," she said.