Keto in the Time of COVID

Stress and life. The two are inextricably intertwined. This fact is nothing new. As long as humans have lived amongst each other, there have been conflicts, arguments, irritations, and pressures: stress and life. Life is, in itself, stress.

But these are different days. The year 2020 has treated many of us in the way an ill-mannered child torments a bug by concentrating rays of sunlight through a magnifying glass. 2020 is frying our brains.

What is one to do with compounding stressors? Any ordinary old year might have tossed some issues at us: job insecurity, too many bills, and too little money, the family that we have to spend more time with than we'd prefer, health concerns. But most years, one of those problems may have sprung up. But not 2020. No, 2020 has to show us what's what. Many of us have been experiencing all these troubles - and more.

Some of us have done what we've done for years when hardships cause us anxiety. We turn to food. The thing is, even in so-called regular times, eating is no solution to any problem other than hunger. In the time of COVID, the same holds.

Food - and carb-laden items, in particular - will solve none of our problems, not one of them. They never have. On the contrary, there has rarely been a more critical time to fuel ourselves with food that keeps us healthy instead of those that tend to raise our blood sugar, inflame our system, and put us at risk for obesity and cardiovascular disease. It is well-accepted that those with metabolic issues (diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure) are at higher risk of complications if one contracts COVID. The ketogenic protocol helps address all of these potential co-morbidities. Lay off the carbs, get healthier. Pretty simple, eh?

I was going to write about this topic months ago. But, truthfully, I was hesitant to add to the tsunami of articles and mentions of the nasty, hateful virus. And writing about food choices seemed somehow trite. But I've had so many inquiries about managing lock-down, stress, anxiety, and all the other gloomy feelings many are experiencing that it feels a good time to chime in.

IT’S JUST A MATTER OF LAYING OFF THE CARBS. AND WEARING A MASK. IT WON'T FIX EVERYTHING THAT’S BROKEN, BUT IT WON’T HURT.

You can read about the basics of the protocol here. The main thing is to reduce carbohydrate intake to a point where our livers stop pumping out glucose (sugar) for fuel. Our bodies then happily will then happily burn ketone bodies (fat) — this aids in many aspects of our health. Blood glucose comes down (for the record, if one takes medications for high blood sugar, reducing carbs medical supervision. The meds can become "too strong" in conjunction with carbohydrate-restriction, resulting in hypoglycemia).

Although it may seem that giving up so-called comfort foods at the very time we long for comfort is one challenge too many, this is the precise time to make a change. We must keep our defenses as robust as possible to ward off the virus's worst effects if we contract it. The difference between a mild case and a bad one can make all the difference.

The best practice is to take preventative measures to avoid the grubby invader in the first place. Here, again, simple steps are most effective: hand-washing, face coverings, giving personal space. Also, fueling ourselves with food that doesn't cause inflammation and metabolic issues helps our immune system be ready if an infection does sneak in.

That's good planning in a 'normal' time. This year amplifies things. Fortunately, 2021 is near.

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Disclaimer: I’m not a medical doctor, researcher, or Ph.D. but rather I’ve been fortunate to have had the time and resources to research the ketogenic diet, also known as LCHF (low carb/high fat). The information I share is based solely on my understanding of that research. We are all responsible for our own choices, including what we put in our mouths and there’s no substitute for each of us checking things out ourselves. And I’m not a medical professional in any way. Go Keto With Casey is not a medical site. “Duh,” you might say. But best to make it clear to all.  I welcome questions, comments, and even civil criticism. I’m still learning. So, if you have something to add, go for it. Links in this post and all others may direct you to affiliate links, where I will receive a small amount of the purchase price of any items you buy through those links. Thanks!