From social media to YouTube, losing weight to reversing cancer… it seems everyone is talking about the ketogenic diet (also popularly known as Low Carb High Fat or LCHF).
But what is a ketogenic diet? What are the benefits of a ketogenic diet? What can a ketogenic diet do for cancer patients… or is it all just hype?
A ketogenic diet for cancer (or for weight loss or health reasons) involves maintaining a fasting state of ketosis. Ketones (which the body produces once it’s in ketosis) are not only fuel for the cells, they are signaling molecules as well. They signal the body to do some amazing things.
Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet for Cancer
Here are just a few of the health benefits of a ketogenic diet for cancer:
1. It helps the body begin expressing new restorative/healing genes
2. It can bring down inflammation (the underlying cause of almost all disease)
3. It stimulates the immune system
4. It can stop or slow down degenerative diseases
Rising Rates of Cancer & Other Diseases
You may wonder why there seems to be so much sickness, cancer, and disease now as compared to the past?
The human body has always gone through times of fasting, which created a ketosis state. This state of ketosis helped to heal, regenerate, and repair the cells, slow down degenerative diseases, and increase longevity.
Today, however, most people have moved away from eating a lot of healthy fats, moderate protein, and minimal carbohydrates. Instead, they consume diets mainly comprised of carbohydrates (sugar), lots of proteins (that can turn to sugar), and eat low to no healthy fats!
We’ve become SUGAR burners and not FAT burners and are always using carbohydrate metabolism for energy. This dietary issue is one of the main reasons you are seeing so many degenerative diseases, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, strokes, Alzheimer’s, etc. The scary thing is the statistics are getting worse with no slowing down in sight!
What is a Ketogenic Diet?
The ketogenic diet involves the removal of most carbohydrates from the diet, particularly sugar or anything that turns to sugar. These carbohydrates are replaced with LOTS of healthy fats and moderate amounts of healthy, high-quality protein.
Ketogenic Diet Macros (Macronutrient breakdown)
The ratio I recommend is about 75% healthy fats, 23% protein, and 2% carbohydrates. (Too much protein can also turn to sugar in the body.)
Healthy cells have the ability to adapt from using glucose for fuel to using ketone bodies because their mitochondria are not damaged. Cancer cells have damaged mitochondria. Therefore cancer cells aren’t able to use ketones for fuel and can only use sugar as their fuel source, or whatever turns to sugar.
What are Ketone Bodies?
Ketone bodies are three different water soluble biochemicals that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down by the liver to be used for energy.
By the way, cancer cells HATE ketones!
As you may know, cancer cells feed on glucose (sugar) as their primary fuel for energy. Without it they become weaker and more sensitive. All carbohydrates turn into glucose (sugar) inside your body within seconds. Cancer cells cannot use ketones for their energy source so they have a hard time surviving if not supplied with a constant source of glucose.
How to Start a Ketogenic Diet
To start the ketogenic diet you will need to purchase a glucose and ketone meter. With just a small needle prick of the finger you will know your blood ketone level.
- Begin by doing a water-only fast for three days. (This will help you to get into ketosis faster)
- Once you begin the diet, consider Intermittent Fasting. (This will hold you in ketosis longer). Then once in ketosis consistently you can stop intermittent fasting if you choose
- Monitor your blood glucose − try to maintain a level of 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/L)
- Monitor blood ketones − try to get up to 3.6
- Engage in high intensity exercise daily, and especially after your biggest meal of the day
Additional Supplements for Your Ketogenic Diet
You may wish to consider adding the following ketogenic supplements on a daily basis:
MCT (medium-chain triglyceride) oil − the use of MCT oil allows you to increase the number of carbs you can eat while staying in ketosis. It is recommend that you take one tablespoon before your workouts, one tablespoon in a morning shake, and one tablespoon with every meal.
Berberine − assists with glucose metabolism
ALA − helps facilitate ketosis, enhances insulin sensitivity
Fenugreek − enhances insulin sensitivity; helps control blood glucose
Research into Cancer and Ketones
If you want to read some studies about the benefits of a ketogenic diet, here are three you can check out:
- The calorically restricted ketogenic diet, an effective alternative therapy for malignant brain cancer
- The inhibition of malignant cell growth by ketone bodies
- Is there a role for carbohydrate restriction in the treatment and prevention of cancer
Important Note: Not all cancer patients benefit from a ketogenic diet. Make sure you work with a qualified doctor familiar with ketogenic diets to see if you might benefit from a ketogenic diet for cancer or if you need to vary up the way you get into ketosis. For example, if you were diagnosed with colon cancer, eating too much meat may be VERY harmful for you. Or if you have gallbladder cancer or have had your gallbladder removed, consuming high amounts of healthy fats may create more problems. Always work with a qualified healthcare practitioner who can monitor your results.
With so much information (and MIS-information) floating around out there, it’s hard to get a clear picture of what the ketogenic diet actually is. Here are some helpful articles that may help guide you:
- 10 Tips for Following a Ketogenic Diet Plan & Getting “Fat Adapted”
- The Benefits of a Plant-Based Ketogenic Diet for Cancer Prevention
- Keto for Women: Is Cyclical Ketosis Right for You?
Article Summary
You may be hearing about ketogenic diets which are also known as Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) and wonder if this type of diet has benefits for cancer patients.
The state of ketosis helps to heal, regenerate, and repair the cells, slow down degenerative diseases, and increase longevity.
Most people have become SUGAR burners and not FAT burners because they are always using carbohydrate metabolism for energy. With the ketogenic diet the body adapts from using glucose for fuel to using ketone bodies. Cancer cells hate ketone bodies.
The ketogenic diet involves the removal of most carbohydrates from the diet, particularly sugar or anything that turns to sugar. Carbohydrates are replaced with LOTS of healthy fats and moderate amounts of healthy, high-quality protein.
While the ketogenic diet is beneficial to many cancer patients, it is NOT a good choice for all types of cancer. Therefore it is important to work with a doctor who understands the ketogenic diet and your particular health situation.
Want to buy a copy of the series. How can I purchase it. Carol Edwards
Hi Carol, We sell two different packages. Here are the purchasing links:
Silver: http://bit.ly/AGQSilver
Gold: http://bit.ly/AGQGold
I purchased the tapes and never received them in the mail but you charged my Visa card
Hi Alan,
I would suggest contacting our customer support team: https://support.thetruthaboutcancer.com/submit_ticket
They will be able to give you your shipping information.
I’d like to know not just what the ketogenic food consists of but on a balanced diet what to have for breakfast lunch dinner and snake, remembering that to much protien isn’t good for cancer. ..seems a lot of keto foods is all about fats and protien which would indicate to much protien..I follow TTAC. .which I love but confused enormously as the history of their videos have doctors telling you all sorts of
different stuff. .from smoothies using fruits carrots beetroot etc then been told stop using so much carbs mmm..I’ve had lymphoma 8 and half year’s. .I’ve ate raw foods kept to fasting and diets ketogenic all sorts. .but even though you have to find a happy medium for your body and I’m all for the foods to survive longer, I can’t help thinking stop confusing it..I’ve had to start chemo this year devastated after 8 half years. .but I definitely needed it could hardly walk before my dr said Ray you need this. .now walking after 2 lots of chemo keeping to my foods and have set up a blog..god bless all
Good Luck!! Never give up.God bless you !!! I have a friend who had lymphoma and recovered very well.
Hi Ray, what’s your blog called? I would like to follow you as I too have a rare form of lymphoma. Maybe we can help each other and anyone else who have similar forms of lymphoma. I am now trying the keto diet but am thoroughly bewildered by the previous comments on what not to eat while on this diet. Especially the consumption of eggs and dairy. Like you, my doctor says it is almost time for more rounds of chemo. It’s been five years since my diagnosis and 31 rounds of chemo. I am fighting her on this and want to do it more naturally. Wishing you all the best with your treatments and praying it will work for you. Cheers:)
Not sure this site will let me leave my blog ..hope you are well get back in touch x
Please take Salvestrols
Yes, it does get confusing. Raw foods or ketogenic? Fasting or Budwig protocol? Vegan or bone broth? Personally, I am finding success by taking the best of each approach, to create the most powerful diet of all, which I believe is:-
a raw, plant-based diet, low glycemic (so, mostly fats and veg, less fruit) with occasional water and/or green juice fast, supplemented with wheatgrass juice and other green superfooods, plus Budwig cream (the only non-vegan thing) made with home-made RAW milk cottage cheese…so, you can be low glycemic AND raw…you can use Budwig cream and have it made RAW…
Good luck!
Don’t confuse good quality carbohydrates with the ones you are talking about in this article. Look at the Blue Zones, look at the Asian diets, look at macrobiotics — a proven regime of curing cancer and degenerative diseases, AND it is based on whole grains. Good quality carbs are one of the keys to a healthy life!
Where can I find more information on this please
Very informative and enlightening,it brings hope for the hopeless,it is the light at the end of their tunnel,keep up the good work and may god bless you all for the great job you are doing.
I would like to know if (Dr Charles Major) could recommend a homeopathic dr in mid/eastern Michigan? I’ve read his article, and followed Ty Bollingers 9 part Cancer series, and would like to get my issues addressed by a non conventional dr. My insurance does not cover any holistic type trestment, so I prefer a qualified recommendation. Thanks in advance.
This may be a place to start: lowcarbdoctors.blogspot.com
http://www.dietdoctors.com , has medical doctors explaining the diet and recipes. To get benefit you have to be strict in keeping carbs below 30gm or 40 gm a day and eating coconut and olive oil to replace all carbs with fats for energy. Once you eat some carbohydrates i.e. sugar or starch in grains, potatoes or fruit, your body goes back to burning sugars. SO you really need to find food that you can make a meal of and snacks that replace muesli bars, bread, bananas, cakes, potato chips and french fries. I wouldn’t eat too much milk fat or egg yoke as they naturally contain high hormones in the fat. So cheese and whole eggs are out. Bacon and preserved meat is not healthy. NZ green lipped mussels and squid, wild fish that isn’t high in mercury are good proteins, even free range chickens probably have been dipped in chlorine. Fermented pea and rice protein are useful vegan options. Then as much low carb vegetables as possible. The more you exercise I would think that you can increase the carbs a little. But increasing fat is more important.
Karen, I too, was looking for a homeopathic or naturopathic dr, but I live in Macomb, Mi. I noticed you did not get any specific locations to your question yet. I’m still hoping someone will come thru with a few names and not the ketosis diet. Good luck. The other Karen.
Theoretically it should work; however, it does NOT. Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez spoke about it at length. His method actually worked. look him up and understand why.
I can’t see a PDF button which would be very useful for all your reports
Hi richardmoulds,
Thank you for the suggestion. I will pass this on to our technical team to see if we can get that option available.
I would like some dietary info re multiple myeloma stage 3. Traditional treatment provides no dietary info and relies principally on chemo and radiotherapy. Can you help?
Hi Alan,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Can a diabetic patient benefit from a ketogenic diet?
I’m glad to see the ketogenic diet getting mentioned on here. As a research scientist the metabolic theory of cancer makes much more sense than the conventional theories I was taught in grad school. My one comment would be to be careful with that high of a protein intake. I would try and keep protein to around 10-15%. For more information on this topic Dr. Thomas Seyfreid’s book “Cancer as a Metabolic Disease” as well as his papers and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino’s papers are excellent resources.
Would a ketogenic diet work with a cancer patient who has had his/her gallbladder removed IF s/he takes bile supplements?
One problem with an animal protein based ketogenic diet. IGF-1. This hormone is a powerful tumor growth promoter. A potentially therapeutic ketogenic diet is free from animal protein and coconut oil based.
I have personally never seen a cancer patient control tumor growth with an animal protein based ketogenic diet. They all experienced tumor growth and elevation of tumor markers.
There is no scientific evidence that a ketogenic diet can starve cancer cells of glucose. Even if it could, cancer cells gobble up glutamine.
I am confused about the meat issue. On Webster Kehr’s website cancertutor.com, he states that anyone with cancer should not eat meat, with the exception of those who need it to maintain their weight. There have also been a lot of studies that suggest that meat feeds cancer. So how to decide about this?
This is an excellent approach. What must be emphasised is that refined carbohydrate foods such as bread, pies, pastries, biscuits, pasta, etc are the worst culprits. Vegetables are complex carbohydrates so not as detrimental to the body. What I like about this diet is that it is gluten free, and gluten is a major inflammatory substance. The main cancer linked with gluten is non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
I am a “senior” woman (70 in December) and also like to run about 3 miles 3 times a week. Would cutting carbs (not just sugar) still provide enough energy for intense exercise?
This seems to be in stark contrast to plant based approaches, such as the Nutritarian diet espoused by Dr. Fuhrman. How does this theory hold up against the abundance of research that high plant food lifestyles, with limited sources of fats and processed oils, seem to be a more balanced way of bringing the body into a state that can promote self-healing?
Ketogenic diet might had been useful for my tour director who died of brain cancer last year. The chemo did not work on her, because after 6 rounds of chemotherapy, her cancer more than doubled in size in one month. What might had caused her brain cancer the first place?
Can the keto diet be altered for those without gallbladders?
Something that really bothers me as I read all of the various diets to consume, even on this site, is that animal products still continue to be encouraged. I am a vegan. It is well documented that both dairy and meat can lead to cancer. They are far from the only ways to get protein. And with all the other harmful things you are taking into your body other than protein, it can be about the worst way to get protein. People that remove animal products from their diet almost always eat more natural foods consuming more fruits and vegetable. Diabetes is almost unheard of. Just my thoughts. I value some of the information, particularly about the role of certain foods, on this website. But the animal products really bother me.You might want to look into the website for PCRM (Physicians for Responsible Medicine) powered by Dr. Neil Bernard. Very informative also.
There are many paths that lead to reversing cancer going partial or wholly vegan is useful and fats in milk and eggs have naturally occurring high hormones. You need to understand the reasons it works is because unlike healthy cells, all cancer cells can only use carbohydrates for fuel, without glucose they die. Normal cells can use glucose or fats to make the energy our body needs. Provided you have enough fat – like olive oil and coconut oil you can burn fats easily. Tests are showing its not unhealthy. The ketogenic diet is an extreme reversal in the way of eating for most people. But if it works for reducing tumours quickly and before surgery then its worth the effort. Its one of the only cures for fast growing brain tumours. Its been done for epileptics since 1980s and can be done as a vegan diet using fermented rice or pea protein. But its a bit more restricted because legumes are fairly high carb, sprouting helps decrease the carb content a bit. It takes about 6 weeks for the body to adapt to the diet. I am working on a more interesting version with less animal protein and more tasty treats as well as healthy fats. It is pretty hard to do if you don’t eat eggs but all things are possible with a dash of creativity.
Ketone urine sticks are useful to monitor whether the body is in a fat burning state.
http://www.dietdoctor.com has doctors explaining it plus heaps of recipes, mostly its about loosing weight or diabetes.
Hi nice write up could you tell me what you would normally eat during the day. .ie what you have for breakfast lunch tea and do you snack. .I try to maintain my wait as I’m having chemo..Regards
Google mms (Jim Humble)
“Engage in high intensity exercise daily, and especially after your biggest meal of the day”
I’m not a doctor but high intensity exercise after a big meal sounds like a great scenario for a heart attack.
I’m with Ray. I need to know what foods you’re talking about, since all fruits and vegetables are carbs. I eat only organic – use olive oil, coconut oil and ghee – no wheat, dairy, corn or soy, beef or pork. Sensitive to nightshades & carbs like pasta or rice (this is all from old, old lyme, which compromised my immune system). Really, what’s left for me to eat?
I’m doing some wondering … a ketogenic diet takes a very considerable amount of time in education about the right kinds & amounts of fats to take . Is there any research on the use of green light to fight cancer? The frequency reminds me of green chlorophyll … lacking in the ketogenic diet.
I am on ketosis, I eat broccoli , green beans, peppers, Brussels sprouts, all the salad greens, all the squashes, celery,cauliflower etc. Just not carrots beets, potatoes, tomatoes. Very easy to learn how to do ketogenic, my naturopath gave me a sheet of paper, it’s all on that. The first 4 days of the diet, I felt unwell, mild headache, constipated ( had to do home enema for a week or so) the 5th day I woke up with incredible energy
and well-being and have felt that way ever since, except once or twice when I ate something I shouldn’t have. I have done a bit of intermittent fasting and the first few weeks I checked my urine for ketones. Now after four months I am keto-adapted and can periodically have a bit more
vegetables. I am highly motivated to do this as I am dealing with cancer. It is hugely empowering to have gone on this eating plan and get
blood work that shows the circulating Tumor cells have deacreased by over 2/3rds since last blood test. I work closely with my naturopath, I get IV vit C , alpha lopeic acid, b vit, DCA 2x per week. I am winning and my efforts are helping. My regret is that I didn’t start seeing a naturopath sooner and learning how to better take care of myself.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and discipline!
I have been using ketogenic diet these past 4 months as part of my plan in managing cancer. It is working very well for me at this time.
I take many supplements and other treatments as well. My blood is monitored biweekly, a full CBC. My energy level and body rhythms are
much better on ketosis, I don’t ever feel hypoglycaemic , like I used to. I don’t feel ‘hunger’ like before, I eat appropriate amounts at the correct time and am satisfied. I am very much in control of my food intake whereas before it was more like food could control me. My weight is perfect.
I hope one day to be able to choose a variety of foods periodically. Would I ever eat bread or baked goods again? Absolutely not.
When I am ‘cancer free’ I will enjoy some carrots, beets, and fruit on special occasions. My insulin response is likely minimal to the foods I eat.
Insulin Growth Factor is not something I want floating around in my body.
Mary Jane, with your ketogenic diet, do you eat fruit, meat,poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, and desserts? Do you do your own juicing? Is all the food that you eat organic? Did you have brain cancer?
The article ends with: “While the ketogenic diet is beneficial to many cancer patients, it is NOT a good choice for all types of cancer. Therefore it is important to work with a doctor who understands the ketogenic diet and your particular health situation.” However, I have yet to find ANY doctor who understands the ketogenic diet, let alone any holistic approach. Therefore, I am grappling in the dark here. I have stage 3 breast cancer (large tumor and swollen lymph nodes) Estrogen and progesterone positive. Does anyone out there know if a ketogenic diet is OK fro me? I am not undergoing chemo or radiation, but have been successfully removing my tumor with Black Salve (bloodroot paste). Thanks so much.
I asked the same question the other day as I am dealing with stage III triple neg. breast cancer also & no chemo or rad. I still have not received a reply to my question. I’ve been on the Budwig Diet 4 weeks now and the tumor has grown and there has been lots of pain. I do hope someone can give us correct information. I’ve been vegan until I added the Gerson protocol… doesn’t seem to be helping.
Hi Susan,
The best advice we can give you is to consult with one of the doctors/experts that we interviewed in our Global Quest Series. Here is a link to get their information: https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/experts-info-sheet/
Sounds good thank you
Any answer to this question?
Hi Michele,
Thank you for the suggestion. I will pass this onward for you. As for now, the best way to print our articles would be to copy and paste the information into a word or text document and print it from there.
It might have been a usefull post IF
you would state how , what to eat for your 75% of fat dieet
or you just try to sell more magical overpriced crap ?
magical SUPER EXTRA MEGA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL ?
next
I have at Keto for almost 4 year. Stop over thinking it. Keep it Simple. Butter, Olive oil, MCT oil, Avocados, mayo, there are great sources of good fats. I save money eating this way, because I eat very simple.
What is the best guide to go by , if you want to start the Leto diet? Trying to find the best book!
Thanks Sylvia
Hello Sylvia,
Good question! Please join us tonight (January 7th) at 5pm EST as we hang out with two top experts on the ketogenic diet, Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin. We can’t wait to share the TRUTH about the ketogenic diet and also give you the details of the “TTAC Keto360 Challenge.” Have a great day!
Please register at the link below. We look forward to seeing you there!
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/webinar-signup-keto-ty-charlene/
In the meantime, please browse the link below to get a sneak peek at the Keto360 Challenge:
https://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Vc2AZja6WgU&offerid=645045.211&type=3&subid=0
I find it better to water fast and get the full benefits of ketosis and massive immune system rejuvenation.
I am very supportive of the ketogenic diet for all the benefits it gives everyone. My whole family is in ketosis for almost a year now and we feel energized, lost fat, etc. Unfortunately all the people I know that had cancer, followed only the modern medicine treatments. They all died. I whish I knew earlier about ketosis so I let them know to add it to their treatment. One friend though, has MS (multiple sclerosis) and since she started fasting and eating only a keto diet, her life changed dramatically for the best. A famous example is Dr. Terry Wahls, who completely cured herself of MS by following the keto diet. Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is also doing impressive progress in his research on ketosis and health as well as curing all sorts of diseases, including cancer. People should completely stop eating any sugar and refined carbs and they will see a huge difference. Also, the fast, that generations before us were keeping for various reasons, should also be something to take seriously. We live in a society obsessed with eating so we should just ignore all the modern, processed foods and go back to old ways of eating. Stinging Nettle soup, anyone? 🙂
:))).your right I’m battling lymphoma and it’s in the marrow..though I’ve been through chemo and the lymp nodes are all clear now ..the bone marrow is taking longer.so had a little radiation on hip..but wouldnt recommend that one if possible. Anyway staying positive…I had lymphoma for over 8 years with no treatment. Kept to a healthy eating plan, sometimes going of the rails..but it finally got hold and that’s when I thought chemo time..so now after having it.im back on eating well but using the ketogenic diet and fasting ..do only thing I don’t like is the weight loss but you do feel great..I do other stuff like apricot kernels Vit c and cq10 and spirulina…I will say this it’s so so confusing when we are being told that just sticking to carrot juice can kill cancer.or keeping the body above the normal ph. Or eating mushrooms will also kill cancer and source sop and black berries…and so on…good luck
Hi I see you eat apricot kernels… how many do you take a day please.. cheers Lisa
I think in general any diet that cuts out sugar and carbs that turn to sugar, reduces inflammation and slims down obese/overweight people is going to boost your health overall and help your immune system to work more efficiently in fighting cancer or any other illness. So whether the keto diet specifically helps cure certain cancers OR boosts general health and indirectly helps with cancer, I would recommend people follow it. It cured me of diabetes (I’m completely off any meds), fixed my thyroid issues, got rid of my acne, joint pains, severe PMS, hair and nail thinning and a bunch of other things. If it’s cut my risk of cancer (my uncle had bowel cancer so it’s in my family) then I’ll consider that an added bonus.
This is the second and last article from this site.
This article is mixed up and all over the place. No wonder people are so confused and it is left to people like us at our health retreat to regain their logic.
‘Carbs’ has turned into the modern day freakshow, yet it is carbs that runs and fuels a well oiled machine. However, we have limited numbers of well oiled machines and everyone has their viewpoints on how to get the machine out of the garage and back on the road again.
What we know is a Keto diet is absolutely not required, and how it is promoted as in this article is as sad as it is comical.
Asking a Dr about a Ketogenic diet is like asking a plumber to explain how to train for a marathon. Why would any responsible health professional promote something that has no evidence in the long term anyway…unless they have something to gain from it, an agenda?
It is never in the best interest of any doctor, hospital, emergency clinic, pharmaceutical company, the builders of x-ray machines, drug stores and pharmacies, research laboratories, and fund-raising organisations for cancer to be cured. The human machine is remarkable, but greed will trump compassion almost every time.