If you’ve done any kind of reading either on my blog or in my Facebook group, you know that I believe that keto is one of the keys to overall health. While keto is an incredible way to help your body lose weight, the benefits go far beyond weight loss. I want to take a look at using keto for auto-immune disorders.
What Are Auto-Immune Disorders?
According to WebMD, auto-immune disorders are any disorder that causes the immune system to be over-active. The immune system actually attacks the body, sometimes damaging the tissues within the body. Most auto-immune disorders can’t be cured; instead treatment is focused on alleviating the symptoms or reducing the immune system response.
Keto certainly would not be a cure for auto-immune disorders. However, much like the ketogenic diet can relieve symptoms for many people with epilepsy, using keto for auto-immune disorders may bring relief to many who suffer from these conditions. I wanted to do some research to see how some auto-immune disorders may be impacted by the ketogenic diet.
Lupus
According to Lupus.org, lupus is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and pain throughout the body. Because keto aims to reduce the intake of grains, which can contribute to inflammation, people who are coping with lupus may find it beneficial to change to the ketogenic diet. Foods commonly consumed while on keto, including bone broth and collagen, may be beneficial to people with lupus because they can be very healing to the gut and to muscles.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a condition where eating gluten can harm the digestive tract. Left untreated, celiac disease can lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies from malabsorption, lactose intolerance, and early-onset osteoporosis. Having celiac can also increase the risk of developing a second auto-immune condition. If there is any auto-immune disorder that keto would help, then celiac is it. Because people who have celiac disease need to follow a strict gluten-free diet, keto is a natural fit. Not all gluten-free products are keto-friendly, but most keto foods are gluten-free. If you’re following a strict keto diet and have eliminated all grains, then you will be avoiding gluten, except those that may be found by cross-contamination or as by-products in products such as lip balm or supplements. While many people who have celiac find that these tiny amounts of gluten do not cause them issues, some people are unable to cook in kitchens where gluten products have been prepared recently because cross-contamination of even a minute amount of gluten can cause their symptoms to flair. So following a strict keto diet would be beneficial, but one would always need to read labels, much as one would if using keto to help control seizures in epilepsy.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the brain. Since the symptoms are primarily neurologic, like epilepsy, more study has been done on the effects of keto on MS. Not only may being in ketosis be beneficial to people who have MS, but MCT oil may help alleviate some symptoms because of its positive effects on the brain.
As you can see, there are some auto-immune disorders where keto may be an effective aid in controlling symptoms. Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list. It’s also important to know that when people use keto to help control seizures, if they go off of keto, their seizures resume. I would assume that if keto was able to alleviate any symptoms of auto-immune disorders, if people go off keto, their symptoms would resume.
Keto is all about your journey to health. For many people, that journey to health involves weight loss. But that may not always be the case. You should always work with your doctor if you’re thinking about using keto as a way to alleviate symptoms of a medical condition.
While the usual discussion in my Intentionally Bare Keto Support Group is about keto for weight loss, we do discuss the health benefits of keto. We also talk about keto recipes, supplements, and other aspects of how keto can support your journey to health. Consider this your invitation to join us!
You got this!
Leta
~ Intentionally Bare
❗️ DISCLAIMER: Health information given here is based on public research and is not meant to take the place of your doctor's advice. Always do your own research and discuss it with your health practitioner before trying a new diet, supplement or exercise plan.
❗️ DISCLOSURE: I manufacture a line of 100% natural keto products under the brand name, Intentionally Bare. These products will be mentioned from time to time because they are amazingly healthy and fantastic for those on a ketogenic diet or anyone looking to improve their health. I am also a participant in the Amazon services LLC Associates Program, designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.** I ONLY ever post a link to products I personally USE and LOVE!
