Animal foods

Good day. As you mentioned, the ketogenic diet is not suitable for oncology patients. Can this type of diet contribute to the onset or development of cancer in people who are unaware of it or have an increased genetic predisposition due to the increased intake of animal products? I am basing this on information provided in the book The China Study, which claims that an increased amount of animal protein raises the risk of cancer and other lifestyle diseases. Or, on the contrary, can it have healing effects, as some of its proponents claim—alleviating allergies, eczema... Thank you.

This is a relatively specific situation for which there is no clear-cut answer. Ketogenic diets are a nutritional extreme and are not yet fully understood. This means we do not exactly know how the body will react in various situations under this dietary regimen. Generally speaking, an excess of proteins, especially animal proteins, does indeed increase the risk of developing and progressing certain malignant diseases. However, with a properly structured keto diet, such a situation should not occur because it is based on a very low intake of proteins.

It has not been proven that a ketogenic diet in itself contributes to the onset or development of cancer in HEALTHY individuals. On the other hand, some studies show that a high intake of animal fats may be associated with an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer (such as breast or colon cancer).

Ketogenic diets can have health benefits, but only in certain situations, and it is not possible to generalize this effect. Therefore, be cautious with these experiments, especially when it comes to oncological diseases.

I have a few questions:
1) B1 and B2 - in the lesson you primarily list animal-based foods as sources - are they present in sufficient amounts in brewer's yeast?
2) Folic acid - you mention folacin. However, nearly half of the population is unable to absorb it due to the MTHFR genetic mutation, which is why the methylfolate variant is recommended, especially for pregnant women. Shouldn't this be mentioned given the potential consequences for the fetus?

1. Yeast is a rich source of B-complex vitamins, but it depends on the form and quantity in which we consume it. These substances are thermolabile, and their sources need to be handled carefully. Therefore, the tabulated nutrient content values may not be a reliable indicator.

2. Folates, folacin, or folic acid are derivatives of glutamic acid, exhibiting different biological activities from folic acid. Their metabolism is complex, with monoglutamate being generally better absorbed than polyglutamates. For these reasons, the term "folic acid equivalent" is used, calculated as the sum of monoglutamate and 0.2 times the polyglutamate. The bioavailability of B9 is determined by the ratio of monoglutamates to polyglutamates (values ranging from 50 to 70% on average), and the situation is further complicated by the fact that bioavailability is higher from animal sources, but their folic acid content is lower. For these reasons, plant-based foods are recommended as the primary sources of B9. Nutritional supplements aim to provide substances with the best possible bioavailability. B9's advantage is that a high percentage of the European population suffers from a mutation in the gene for the enzyme MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase), which is crucial for the metabolism of folic acid and can cause elevated homocysteine levels, leading to higher risks of congenital defects in the fetus during pregnancy. Methylfolate is a form of B9 that is well absorbed even without intervention from this enzyme and is gradually becoming the standard in nutritional supplements.