The Keto Paradox: Fad Diet *and* Life-Saving Medical Treatment

What do some epilepsy patients have in common with tech bros,
bodybuilders, and Joe Rogan? The high-fat, carb-shunning diet known
as keto, whose history dates back much further than its 2010s rise
to fame. In this episode, Gastropod traces how a medical treatment
pioneered more than 2,500 years ago was refined in the 1920s to
treat seizures. We trace its wild ride in and out of fashion, with
cameos from Robert Atkins, the 80s exercise craze, and Meryl
Streep. And, of course, we've got the myth-busting science on what
ketosis and ketones really are, the dangers of eating this way to
lose weight, and the reason this diet can be life-saving—for people
with a very specific medical condition. Bust out the butter (but
please don't put it in coffee) and join us down the keto rabbit
hole. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
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