Backed by science
Metabolic dysfunction &
insulin resistance
As soon as we consume food, our metabolism gets to work processing the macronutrients and micronutrients into usable fuel for energy and bodily processes and functions. Giving your body the right balance is crucial for good health and wellbeing.
Insulin resistance is the precursor to a long list of inflammatory diseases and conditions. When we are insulin resistant, our pancreas is working incredibly hard to produce enough insulin to deal with the excess glucose, but the cells have become resistant to the messages, and dysfunction occurs.
Many people eating a modern so called healthy diet, can't understand what is going wrong when they develop a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease.
The solution lies in understanding the root cause of the problem. Our bodies were not designed to deal with the constant, all year round presence of refined and processed carbohydrates and sugars in our diet.
The solution:
Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction
Nutrition Network
The purpose of Nutrition Network is to actively share the knowledge, research, analysis, and practical skills that already exist in the area of Therapeutic Carbohydrate Restriction with those wanting to learn more and implement these strategies into their clinical or professional practice.
Special thanks to Sarah Rice BSc.(Hons) MCOptom for compiling the below research links.
Evidence based research
Metabolic Conditions
Jeziorek,M.etal.(2023) ‘The Benefits of Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) Diet on Body Composition, Leg Volume, and Pain in Women with Lipedema’, Journal of Obesity, 2023,p. e5826630. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5826630
Masood, I.etal. (2023) ‘Effect of ketogenic diet and hypocaloric Mediterranean diet on metabolic and endocrine parameter in women suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome’, International Journal of Food Properties, 26(2), pp.3187 – Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2023.2275528
Pinsawas, B.etal. (2023) ‘Asian Low-Carbohydrate Diet with Increased Whole Egg Consumption Improves Metabolic Outcomes in Metabolic Syndrome: A 52-Week Intervention Study’. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3646877/v1.(preprint)
Corsetti, V., Notari, T. and Montano, L. (2023) ‘Effects of the low-carb organic Mediterranean diet on testosterone levels and sperm DNA fragmentation’, Current Research in Food Science, 7, p. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100636
Guarnotta, V. etal. (2023) ‘Nutritional Intervention in Cushing’s Disease: The Ketogenic Diet’s Effects on Metabolic Comorbidities and Adrenal Steroids’, Nutrients, 15(21), p.4647. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15214647
Hu, C. etal. (2023) ’Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diet with Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease’, Nutrients, 15(22), p.4763. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224763
Izzo, G. etal. (2023) ‘Male obesity secondary hypogonadism: effectiveness of ketogenic diet on testicular function’, Exploration of Foods and Foodomics, 1(4), pp.178–191. Available at:
Evidence based research
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes
An evidence-based approach to developing low-carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes management: A systematic review of interventions and methods.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31347236
Effect of dietary carbohydrate restriction on glycemic control in adults with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29522789
Effects of low-carbohydrate- compared with low-fat-diet interventions on metabolic control in people with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review including GRADE assessments.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30007275
Unwin, D., Haslam, D. and Livesey, G. (2016) ‘It is the glycaemic response to, not the carbohydrate content of food that matters in diabetes and obesity: The glycaemic index revisited’, Journal of Insulin Resistance, 1(1), p. 9. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.4102/jir.v1i1.8.
Walker, L., Smith, N. and Delon, C. (2021) ‘Weight loss, hypertension and mental well-being improvements during COVID-19 with a multicomponent health promotion programme on Zoom: a service evaluation in primary care’, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, p. bmjnph. Available at:
Evidence based research
Neurology
Fuller,L.andWexler,R.(2023) Lamotrigine Deprescribing in Patients with Seizure Disorders: A Case Series. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.19399.88487.
Li,W.etal.(2023) ‘Efficacy and Safety of a Smartphone Application-based Treatment of Ketogenic Diet in Pediatric Refractory Epilepsy’, Epilepsia Open, n/a(n/a). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/epi4.12867.
Mazandarani,M.etal.(2023)‘ Does the ketogenic diet improve neurological disorders by influencing gut microbiota? A systematic review’, Nutrition Journal, 22,p.61. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-023-00893-2.
Mutarelli,A.etal.(2023)‘ Modified Atkins diet for drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials’, Seizure, 112,pp.77–83. Available at:
Success in general practice.
Kelly, T., Unwin, D. and Finucane, F. (2020) ‘Low-Carbohydrate Diets in the Management of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: A Review from Clinicians Using the Approach in Practice’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(7), p. 2557. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072557.
Summers, C., Tobin, S. and Unwin, D. (2021) ‘Evaluation of the Low Carb Program Digital Intervention for the Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes in an NHS England General Practice: Single-Arm Prospective Study’, JMIR Diabetes, 6(3), p. e25751. Available at:
https://doi.org/10.2196/25751.
Unwin, D., Cuthbertson, D., Feinman, R. and Sprung, V. (2015) A pilot study to explore the role of a low-carbohydrate intervention to improve GGT levels and HbA 1 c. Available at:
(Accessed: 1 February 2021).
Unwin, D.J., Tobin, S.D., Murray, S.W., Delon, C. and Brady, A.J. (2019) ‘Substantial and Sustained Improvements in Blood Pressure, Weight and Lipid Profiles from a Carbohydrate Restricted Diet: An Observational Study of Insulin Resistant Patients in Primary Care’, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(15), p. 2680. Available at: