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For doctorsCan keto improve COPD? Or are we getting a little too excited about possible benefits?
As covered in Yahoo Lifestyle, pulmonologist Dr. Raymond Casciari is promoting the use of a keto diet to help people with COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease, or emphysema). Although there are no published studies to back his claim, he cites his clinical experience with his patients improving.
He hypothesizes that since burning fat for fuel creates less carbon dioxide than does burning glucose, our bodies do not have to work as hard to expel that carbon dioxide through the lungs when in ketosis. This creates a potential mechanism for why a keto diet could help people with COPD breathe better, but we are still missing the all-important evidence.
Could there be other explanations? Of course. As we know, a keto diet is effective for weight loss and improving energy in general. These effects could also lead to improved breathing.
It was interesting to see Dr. Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association, acknowledge keto as potentially helpful for COPD, while acknowledging that this is based on patient anecdotes, not studies.
It is certainly premature to claim that a keto diet is beneficial for COPD. However, we can see a trend that helping people lose weight and feel better can impact their health in many different ways. I look forward to more data in the future helping guide the use of nutritional ketosis as treatment for multiple disease processes.
Thanks for reading,
Bret Scher, MD FACC
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people with COPD. One is associated with obesity and many of these people also suffer from concomitant obesity hypoventilation syndrome which leads to CO2 retention. The other more common body type is represented by thin, cachectic individuals. It is unlikely in my mind that a keto diet would be effective in the later group and would probably be unsafe.
I start looking for alternatives and I found the keto diet and I can tell you my breathing has improved a lot , I'm waiting for the summer just to see how the humidity will affect me.
Now even as it is a progressive disease I feel better than last year's spring.
I have been doing low carb/Keto for the past 3 years and am wholly convinced by the science behind it. I went on line and came across some rodent studies showing reversal of heart failure on a Keto Diet. After much persuasion I managed to convince my father in law to give it a go, including lots of fat so as not to loose weight. Within weeks his symptoms improved and he has not been to hospital since. He is leading an active life and is involved with various clubs including being treasurer and secretary of his local jazz club. His weight is completely stable, as he weighs himself everyday to check for fluid overload.
Here is an excerp from an email my husband received from him just last week.
“Inform Debs (that’s me) that she has effectively been complimented by my GP, who fe els that ,
presenting a year on, with faculties and life abilities all functioning, is something in
The remarkable bracket. My own sentiments entirely.”
His cardiologist is gobsmacked, as he did not think he would be around for his follow up appointment. I am not claiming that he is cured, but his function and quality of life are beyond anything I could have imagined. He didn’t have time to wait for the clinical trials and I am glad he didn’t!
I sent off for a 'York' blood test which was more in depth than the hospital tests, which were/are all swabs on the surface of the arm. Cut a long story short. Out of desperation and not feeling I was ever going to improve following only NHS (UK) advice, I followed the blood test results and advice to completely give up dairy products. Within one week my neck felt better and within two weeks the carpal tunnel syndrome had gone and my breathing started improving. All of this and I was only weeks ago from having an operation for the carpal tunnel syndrome.
I'm now 60, down the gym 2 or 3 times weekly, doing lovely long walks fortnightly and generally feeling really well on the low starchy carb keto approach with all meat, veg and fruit being organic wherever possible. I only occasionally use a symbicort inhaler during occasional damp Winter days.
I want to understand all this stuff more deeply but also setting up a new business...never enough time! :-)
I have chronic COPD & I cannot eat carbs without it affecting my breathing - I am 95% carnivore for this reason
High Blood sugars can also cross over into the lungs & feed bacteria which is not a good thing
Going Keto is great for COPD as far less bloating - less wind & gut pain - GERD
100 grams of sugar will also suppress the immune system - you can contact me via email for the studies