This New Weird Diet Might Actually Be The Best One For Fighting Inflammation

Editor’s note: Will Cole, D.C., is a longtime member of the mbg family (he’s in the mbg Collective and is even a class instructor!). His new book, Ketotarian, is all about marrying a ketogenic and vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian diet for exponentially greater health benefits. Here, he explains what the ketotarian diet is and why it’s such a powerful inflammation fighter.  

Inflammation can be found at the root of almost all modern-day health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune conditions. An estimated 50 million Americans have an autoimmune condition, and that is not including the millions more that are on the autoimmune-inflammation spectrum; someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds, and one in two men, and one in three women, will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. While this is common, this is certainly not normal.

At its essence, a ketotarian diet is a plant-based version of the trendy ketogenic diet, which has been shown to enhance brain function and stabilize blood sugar by providing your body1 with a more effective and sustainable form of energy (ketones) instead of quick-burning glucose from carbs and sugar. The conventional ketogenic diet can be extremely heavy in meat and dairy and doesn't take into account the sensitivities that many people have to this food group—not to mention, it can ostracize anyone who would rather follow a more plant-based diet. The ketotarian diet, on the other hand, leverages all of the benefits of eating a high-fat diet without the often-inflammatory effects of dairy2 and conventional, processed meats (which have been linked3 to cancer when consumed in high amounts).

So why is this combination of diets so potentially powerful? A ketotarian is able to take advantage of the benefits of eating plant-based while avoiding the common mistakes I see many well-intentioned vegans and vegetarians make. At their core, plant-based diets can lead to more environmentally friendly eating habits and can have intensive detoxification properties4, help fight cancer5, and also keep blood sugar under control6. However, in my clinic, I see far too often that many people who choose to eat more plant-based actually become carbatarians, living on bread, pasta, and other grains, along with beans and soy for protein, sometimes without even realizing how much they are relying on these food sources. The result? Severe deficiencies of vital nutrients and inflammation.

That's why a ketotarian diet makes it easier to create a plant-based food plan that's full of healthy fats, clean protein, and colorful, nutrient-dense vegetables. Since it's low-carb, moderate protein, and high fat, you're able to transition your body from a sugar burner to a fat burner and put your body into a state of ketosis—just like a conventional ketogenic diet but with a plant-based twist.

Research7 has shown that specifically eating a high-fat diet devoid of plant fiber actually increases inflammation. By eating ketotarian, the idea is you no longer have to worry about whether or not the foods you're putting into your body are going to throw you into an inflammatory state.

Tacos are my love language, so chances are you'll find me eating some lettuce-wrapped roasted cauliflower tacos for dinner—heavy on the guac and detoxifying cilantro.

Overall, ketotarianism is a practical and sustainable way of eating through its ability to limiting cravings through fat-adaptation, which is a major reason diets fail. Whether you want to be completely plant-based or add in meat every so often, ketotarian is a great home base. Of course, as with any major dietary shift, it's important to talk to your doctor to make sure you're choosing the best foods for your body.