My Notes: The Ketogenic Lifestyle

Image from The Truth About Cancer

What is ketosis as a metabolic treatment of cancer? Ketosis was a beneficial process the human body developed as an adaptation to times when food was unavailable. Cancer cells rely on glucose for energy and they cannot function without it. By its nature, the ketogenic diet is very low in carbohydrates (typically 20 to 50 grams/day). This provides minimal energy to cancer cells. Cancer cells cannot use the ketones produced when the body breaks down fat for energy.

Ketosis Goal: 

30-50g / day carb.s

>70g / day protein

Starve Cancer  glucose feeds cancer (food pyramid)

2-5% carbs

20% proteins

75% fats

Kickstart Ketosis

1. 3-day water fast
2. Intermittent fasting to hold ketosis
3. Blood glucose = 70 mg/dl
4. Blood ketones = minimum 3.6
5. Exercise

Extra Helpers

1. MCT oil - allows more carb intake while remaining in ketosis
2. Berberine - assists glucose metabolism
3. ALA - facilitates ketosis and enhances insulin sensitivity
4. Fenugreek - enhances insulin sensitivity and helps control blood glucose

AVOID ALL CARB.S & SUGAR!!!

Take away cancer's fuel source! Stay away from ALL sugar, agave, gluten, grains, root vegetables, and most fruit, wheat, oats, rice, quinoa, bread, pasta, beans, legumes, milk and reduced fat dairy, processed meat

Avoid these Oils

cotton seed, sunflower, safflower, soy, canola

Avoid ALL Alcohol

BAD Sweeteners 

(I avoid ALL artificial sweeteners including "diet" drinks)

1. Aspertame

2. Sucralose - Splenda is a toxin

3. Saccharine

4. Agave

5. Glucose - dextrose

6. Galactose - milk

7. Fructose - fruit

8. Honey - 50% fructose

9. Rapadura

Sweeteners:

Liquid stevia

Erythritol

Xylitol

According to the ketogenic diet, it's okay to use liquid 100% organic stevia and xylitol though I choose not to.

Ketogenic Fats - 60-70% caloric intake

Fats and Oil

Avocado

Butter

Mayonnaise

Coconut oil

Flaxseed oil

Olive oil

Sesame oil

MCT oil / powder

Walnut oil

Nuts and Seeds (in moderation)

Almonds

Cashews

Shredded Coconut

Macadamia

Hazelnuts

Peanuts

Peanut butter

Tahini 

Walnuts

Dairy:

Full fat dairy and cheeses

Fermented dairy

Cottage cheese - full fat

Sour cream

Heavy cream

Proteins:

High quality meat

Eggs

Fish

Organ meats

NO cured meats

Carbohydrates:

Get your carb.s from leafy green vegetables that grow above ground NO ROOT VEGETABLES

Leafy greens

Nuts

Seeds

Berries

Alfalfa sprouts

Artichoke

Arugula

Bok Choy

Celery

Cucumber

Endive

Onion

Peppers

Spinach

Tomato

Fennel

Mushrooms

Jicama

Mung bean sprouts

Olives

Lettuce

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Leeks

Hearts of Palm

Beet greens

Asparagus

Eggplant

Fruit: (fructose is as bad or worse than glucose - avoid most fruits)

Avocado

Blackberries

Blueberries

Cherries

Cranberries

Currants

Gooseberries

Logan berries

Cantaloupe melon

Honeydew melon 

Raspberries 

Strawberries

Ketogenic Drinks:

Broth

Club soda

Coffee

Lemon juice

Unsweetened almond milk

Organic Acids and Enzymes:

Unsweetened fermented drinks

Dried herbs without added sugar

lemon/lime juice

Apple cider vinegar

Spices: 

Some companies add sugar and other things to spice-mixes

Basil

Oregano

Parsley

Rosemary

Thyme

Chili powder

Cumin

Cinnamon

Nutmeg

Lemon/lime juice

Salt/pepper

Otto Heinrich Warburg 

German physiologist/biochemist: - 1931 - won Nobel Prize for his discovery: Cancer as a Metabolic Disease

Wasteful Metabolism: cancer cells prefer anaerobic process of fermentation = conversion of sugar into acids, gases, and alcohol.

Fast growing cancer cells take the "cheaper" easier path of fermentation.

1. Cells became cancerous by damaged cellular respiration. Mitochondria burn oxygen and glucose = ATP. 
2. Cells deprived of oxygen revert to energy production known as fermentation (anaerobic - no oxygen needed).

   3.  Fermentation of glucose produces lactic acid causes cancer cells to          be very hungry.

Somatic Mutation Theory - Cancer as a genetic disease became mainstream and the Metabolic Theory faded out in 1970 until it's revival via Prof. Thomas Seyfried.

Geneticist Prof. Thomas Seyfried: 

Cancer as a Metabolic Disease examined mitochondrial DNA = no mutations found.

Cancer cells ferment glucose and glutamine to produce energy = food for cancer

All Cancer: defect in Cardiolipin = lipid fat which, composes the membrane of mitochondria that directly controls oxidative phosphorylation

Conclusion: cellular DNA becomes cancerous due to need of cells to ferment.

*Oncogenes drive fermentation

*Damaged respiration = free radicals + lactic acid which create mutations

Therapies: TAKE AWAY CANCER'S FUEL SOURCE = GLUCOSE

CR: Caloric restriction effect. 

Lower blood glucose - raise ketones = kill cancer cells

Biomarkers for CR Caloric Restriction:

1. LOWER blood glucose
2. Elevate blood ketone bodies

Nutritional Ketosis:

Ketosis drives blood sugar way down

Autophagy - cells "house cleaning" breaks down and recycles defective mitochondria. Autophagy is triggered by nutritional ketosis.

Anti Tumor Effects of CR: calorie restriction

1. Anti-angiogenic
2. Anti-inflammatory
3. Pro-apoptotic = death of cancer cells

Anti-glycotic drugs: reduce glycolysis (fermentation)

CR - drugs lower glucose levels

KD-R with glycolysis inhibitor 2-DG for managing CT - 2A astrocytoma

Vitamin-D

DISCLAIMER:

All information provided here is a culmination of my personal research, reading, listening, and watching videos and podcasts. I am NOT a nutritionist nor a medical doctor. I do not provide medical services or treatment plans. This post is intended as an update of my own interest in the Ketogenic Lifestyle. Always consult with your medical team about your treatment.