4 Comments

Such a great conversation! A few months before I got pregnant this time around I read "How to Fast Like a Girl" by Mindy Pelz. She talks about progesterones need for more glucose in the blood in order to thrive. With progesterones important role in pregnancy, it got me wondering about how a ketogenic diet might effect that... any thoughts on that?

Expand full comment

This also makes me think about how leptin, which lowers blood glucose, naturally rises in pregnancy starting in the first trimester when women begin losing their appetite from nausea. As the placenta forms, it also starts producing leptin, and 95% of placental leptin is thought to go toward the mother. Then, in the second trimester the mother gets a physiological leptin resistance so she doesnโ€™t get the usual appetite suppression associated with high circulating leptin and the second trimester is usually when pregnant women are the most hungry.

Expand full comment

I can attest to that!! Why this was circling around for me in my mind was from me trying to think about why I have an increased desire for carbs right now!! :) Of course, it also lines up with the season for us as many carbs are in abundance right now. Thanks to both of you for your great replies!

Expand full comment

Hi Manijeh, great question! It's true that for most that including complex carbohydrates in the luteal phase of the cycle (and in pregnancy!) is a good way to ensure adequate progesterone production. A review study published just this month in the Journal of Endocrine Society concluded that a ketogenic diet likely only improves sex hormone status, but taking a closer look, the study included data from just 7 trial and of PCOS women participants. Additionally, the term of these trials was likely not long enough to provoke progesterone depletion - in my clinical experience, it usually takes months before the symptoms emerge. Getting back to pregnancy - I beg the question if keto is necessary during pregnancy or if a one could simply be conscious of the quality and amount of carbohydrate intake as you are correct that progesterone's role is vital in pregnancy.

Expand full comment