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.

Themes:  Ketogenic diet   Cancer   Animal foods