Ketogenic Diet and its Positive Impact on First Responders

Dr. Dominic D’Agostino is an associate professor of molecular pharmacology and physiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He has extensive experience in ketone research. In the past 15 years, Dr. Dominic D’Agostino has investigated the health impact of a ketogenic diet and ketone ester supplements. A recent article at his website, KetoNutrition, introduces the benefits of a ketogenic diet, particularly in the case of first responders.

First responders, such as law enforcement officers, paramedics, and firefighters, are expected to maintain their physical and mental health. However, they are continually subjected to harmful factors, including poor nutrition, sleep disturbance, psychological stress, exposure to harmful substances, and risk of injury.

Recent studies have highlighted that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major factor that influences morbidity and mortality rates in first responders. The risk of CVDs has long been associated with excess body weight and a high level of stress.

A diet of reduced carbohydrate levels, the ketogenic diet, puts the body in a state called nutritional ketosis. This leads to an increased level of ketones in the blood. Ketones appear when glucose availability is reduced, and the body starts to burn fats for fueling the organ systems. This diet also contributes to training a person’s metabolic flexibility, allowing a person to maintain their energy level without a period of food consumption. For more information, please visit KetoNutrition.org and instagram.com/dominic.dagostino.kt.