Can the Keto Diet Help with Lipedema?

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From keto coffee to keto cookies to keto candy, the extreme, low-carb diet is all the craze these days.  But, what can it do (or not do) for those living with lipedema?

The Ketogenic Diet, colloquially referred to as the “keto diet” or “keto,” has taken the health world by storm over the past few years from fitness bloggers to health junkies to wellness warriors to those just looking to lose a few lbs.  The keto diet originated amongst those with insulin issues, hence it became known as the “diet of diabetics.”  When followed religiously, the diet proved to be beneficial to anyone looking to shed fat fast.  Very low carb diets have not only been lauded for their remedial impact across a wide variety of disorders from chronic migraines to Parkinson’s to GERD, but now you can add lipedema to the growing list.  While the evidence is still evolving and most of it anecdotal, could there be light at the end of the tunnel for ladies living with lipedema?  A paper recently published in the Medical Hypothesis demonstrated several key ways the keto diet can provide a range of benefits to counteract a categorically complex condition. See paper

• A reduction in lipedema pain in as little as two weeks after starting the keto diet
• Improved mobility due to decreased pain, which further demonstrated a “domino effect” of improved quality of life
• Improvement in psychological disorders, like depression and anxiety, which are often linked to those suffering from the effects of lipedema
• Although lipedema fat has factually been resistant to traditional weight loss methods, patients’ anecdotal evidence seems to suggest the keto diet can have surprising results – Lipedema adipocytes may require much lower levels of insulin than counterpart adipose (fatty) tissue for lipolysis to take place, have dysfunctional glucagon sensitivity, and be insulin resistant.  This may be why the keto diet may be more effective in targeting lipedema fat than through any other diet!

Another study published in ScienceDoctor.com revealed the intensely popular ketogenic diet has been shown to modulate pain and inflammation associated with lipedema, independent of weight loss, by positively impacting lymph vessel functionality and flow.

What is the Keto Diet?
In a nutshell, the keto diet is an extremely low-carb diet rich in heart-healthy (monosaturated) fats and protein.  While carbs are severely restricted (no more than 20 grams daily), the body looks to dietary fat as well as fat stores found in adipose tissue for fuel/energy.  (Think meats, eggs, cheese, and non-starchy, leafy veggies AND bread, pasta, rice, cereals, candy, or potatoes.)  The very limited carb intake results in the production of ketones, or ketogenesis, and turns the body from a sugar-burning machine into a fat-burning one. Those who partake in the keto craze find the diet not sustainable for long periods due to its extreme restriction of carbohydrates, which are essentially meant to fuel the body.  Most people alternate between keto and a well-balanced diet to meet/maintain their weight loss goals.  The average person consumes several hundred carbohydrates daily.  Proponents of the keto diet find the extreme limitation of carbs very challenging in the beginning and claim the diet takes some adjusting.  However, with food companies cashing in on the diet trend by offering a variety of keto-friendly foods, snacks, beverages, and other tasty, no-carb treats, the trendy diet has never been easier to stick to.  If you’re going to join the keto club, now’s the time, as you’ll find an endless arsenal of foods and beverages to keep you on your keto game – effortlessly.

Conclusion
Before you sign up to join the ever-growing keto club, there are few things you should consider.  Always consult your doctor before beginning any diet or exercise regimen.  A comprehensive, customized plan consisting of compression garments, lymphatic drainage massage, or even surgical intervention, may be incorporated with your Keto efforts to make a greater, well-rounded impact.  Like with any health-related strategy, it takes more than a single component to get the best results.  It’s an all-encompassing effort. But, it’s important to understand the findings in this article are anecdotal and the verdict is still out on whether the keto diet can yield positive results for every lipedema patient.  While one patient may find they’ve lost a significant amount of weight while on the keto diet, another patient may just experience a decrease in pain and/or inflammation.  Everyone’s experience may be vastly different.  If you’re seriously considering taking on the keto challenge to mitigate your lipedema pain, inflammation, plus possible weight loss, Keto for Lipedema is an invaluable site for lipedema patients to learn more about how the keto movement can possibly help.  Get access to recordings, links, videos, patient testimonials/before-and-after’s, and up-to-the-minute information from the industry’s leading lipedema and nutritionist experts.  Visit keto.lipedema-simplified.org to learn more.

To learn more, please contact our Beverly Hills, California office to schedule a consultation with any of our highly trained specialists.