Food as Medicine and Therapy – The Keto Diet

The salad in this photo above was today’s lunch, which I ate after skipping breakfast for an intermittent fast. See the nutritional breakdown of this salad below. Also, below are two important videos about the ketogenic diet.

Keto Diet

I am once again committing to the ketogenic diet, combining that with the Paleolithic diet and my regular food combining… all are similar.

I’ll be cooking some of my venison tonight for dinner. It is defrosting in the refrigerator now.

Like most people, I often fall off the healthy diet wagon to enjoy my favorite pastries and breads. 😀

The reason for this current push is to cleanse my organs and focus on a preventative diet. I have a blood test in a few weeks as part of my annual physical. I want to pass the test. In general, I want to be disease free, long-term. 🙂

It will be interesting to compare my next blood test and physical status after these 365 days of an improved diet and exercise regimen.

None of this is easy. But it becomes a habit and insures a better quality of life.

The Salad

The contents of this salad:

Extra virgin olive oil and Italian seasoning – Olive oil is anti-inflammatory, contains abundant antioxidants, and is beneficial for vasodilation.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23352-vasodilation

Vasodilation refers to the widening of the arteries and large blood vessels. It is a natural process that occurs in response to low oxygen levels or increases in body temperature. It increases blood flow and oxygen delivery to areas of the body that require it most.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327402#function

Large green olives – See above. Olives are very high in vitamin E and other powerful antioxidants.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/olives

Romaine lettuce – The high levels of potassium within romaine lettuce can help maintain cardiovascular health. In addition, the antioxidant vitamins A and C in the lettuce may help prevent cholesterol from building up and forming plaque in the arteries.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319725

Walnuts – Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for reducing inflammation. In fact, it is the only nut significantly high in these omega-3 fatty acids. Their anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Studies have shown that the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory polyphenols (compounds) found in walnuts may improve brain functionand slow mental decline that occurs with aging. Cognitive functions include your memory and ability to think.

Bacteria and microbes in your intestines and gut are also essential to your health. Research shows walnuts can improve gut health. In a clinical trial, adults who ate walnuts every day had healthier gut bacteria.

Microbes in your gut take compounds found in walnuts and produce urolithin compounds. These urolithins may help lower risk for certain cancers. Research is still being done to fully understand walnuts’ potential role in cancer prevention.

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/4-health-benefits-of-walnuts-and-how-much-you-should-eat/2024/02

White onion – Onions are high in vitamin C, which may help regulate your immune health, collagen production, and iron absorption.

It’s also a powerful antioxidant that could help protect your cells from unstable, damaging molecules called free radicals.

Onions are rich in B vitamins, including folate and vitamin B6. These play key rolesTrusted Source in metabolism, red blood cell production, and nerve function.

Lastly, onions are a good source of potassium.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/onion-benefits#nutrients

Celery – Like most vegetables, celery is almost all water. Its biggest nutrients are carbohydrates, followed by protein, and trace amounts of fat.

Celery is a good source of:

Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin K
Potassium
Folate

Celery is rich in a plant compound called phthalide. This phytochemical relaxes your artery walls to help blood flow and to lower your blood pressure.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-celery