Some exciting scientific studies demonstrate a link between a ketogenic diet and prevention of colon, gastric, and prostate cancers. A review of one study, published in Redox Biology highlighted evidence supporting the theory that a ketogenic diet tends to ‘starve' cancer cells by increasing ‘metabolic oxidative stress' on the cells. While this doesn't mean a change in diet alone can reverse cancer, it does show that such a diet supports other conventional cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. So far, studies with large numbers of subjects have been done with animals, but case studies of humans support this conclusion, too.

“Most cancer therapies are designed to take advantage of the metabolic and physiological differences that exist between cancer cells and normal cells. Compared to normal cells, cancer cells exhibit increased glucose metabolism…”

So by using a ketogenic diet to stress cancer cells more than a high-carb typical American diet does, cancer cells are more strongly differentiated from healthy cells. The report concluded, in part, that “there is a great need for complimentary approaches that have limited patient toxicity while selectively enhancing therapy responses in cancer versus normal tissues.”

Expect to see similar scientific studies involving large numbers of human subjects in the future. Those results will be even more exciting!

As always, when it comes to your health, do your own research and decide for yourself. The original 2014 article is published on Redox Biology.