Ketogenic Diet Advantages and Disadvantages

Although the ketogenic diet is now in vogue, it is by no means a new phenomenon. Doctors began prescribing ketogenic diets containing few if any carbohydrates in the early 1920s. At that time, they had relatively few anticonvulsant drugs, so the diet was a logical choice. In some cases, neurologists may still prescribe such a diet for a person whose seizures do not respond to medication. Most people following a high-fat low-carb diet today are striving for weight loss, though. Read on to learn more about ketogenic diet advantages and disadvantages.

Ketogenic Diet Advantages Go Beyond Weight Loss:

Q. Two years ago, I learned I had type 2 diabetes. It took six months, but after adopting a ketogenic eating plan, I lost 45 pounds and reversed the diabetes.

I have continued to lose more weight slowly and want to reach my goal of 150 for a total of 100 pounds of weight loss. I have learned that eating this way is best for me to maintain good physical and mental health.

I have fought depression, chronic fatigue and joint pain all my adult life, but now I no longer include these as complaints. I have a great doctor who has fully supported my efforts and monitors my supplement use. With regular exercise, I am looking forward to a healthy future.

A. Congratulations on learning how to lose weight and improve your health. A ketogenic (keto) diet provides most of its energy in the form of fat. Protein is also needed, of course, so meals high in poultry, fish, meat, nuts and eggs are frequently part of the eating plan. Non-starchy vegetables such as broccoli, peppers, asparagus and Brussels sprouts provide fiber and nutrients without exceeding carbohydrate limits.

Not everyone will appreciate the keto approach, but research indicates that it may have a number of unexpected benefits. Weight loss is not unexpected; better control of refractory epilepsy is another ketogenic diet advantage (Medicine, Sep. 26, 2025).

Other Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet:

In addition, a ketogenic diet has been shown to help young adults with major depression (Translational Psychiatry, Sep. 10, 2025). We are not surprised that a keto diet has been proven helpful in treating type 2 diabetes (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Oct. 2015). On the other hand, a ketogenic regimen for treating schizophrenia is unorthodox (Psychiatry Research, March 20, 2024). In a pilot trial, it was helpful, though.

A Keto Diet Disadvantage:

Q. I have been reading about the advantages of a ketogenic diet to lose weight and control blood sugar. I tried this in the past. I lost fat and felt healthy, but I had horrible acetone-smelling breath.

This was even mentioned in my student evaluations, not a good thing for a professor. Is there any way to avoid this?

A. A ketogenic diet gets very little of its energy from carbohydrates and most of it from fat. In this low-carb high-fat plan, protein intake is moderate. Under these conditions, the body burns fat for energy and produces chemicals called ketones as a by-product.

Such a diet helps with body fat loss and improves metabolic markers such as HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Acetone is one of the ketones your body makes, and it shows up in the breath when following a strict no-sugar no-starch approach.

According to Eric Westman, MD, a proponent of this diet, the acetone breath should eventually fade. Until it does, he suggests drinking plenty of water, brushing teeth (and tongue) regularly and chewing sugarless gum, mint leaves or cinnamon bark.

Learn More:

Would you like to learn more about the ketogenic diet and why it works so well to shed pounds? We have had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Westman about his research and the low-carb approach to weight loss, blood sugar control and heart health. Show 958 is titled Flipping the Food Pyramid Upside-Down. Don’t miss this chance to get specific details about ketogenic diet advantages and disadvantages. You may also wish to listen to our more recent interview with Dr. Westman, co-hosted with anthropologist Bianca Garcia. It is Show 1444: The Food Fight Over Fat: Keto and Carnivore Diets.