This finding is particularly noteworthy for people with high blood sugar levels, a group that often has difficulty improving oxygen utilization and exercise efficiency when exercising.
Exercise not only helps control weight, strengthen muscles and improve cardiovascular health, but also enhances the body's ability to use oxygen to generate energy.
This ability to absorb and use oxygen is considered one of the reliable indicators reflecting long-term health and longevity.
However, for people with high blood sugar, the benefits from exercise are sometimes limited. High blood sugar can reduce muscles' ability to absorb oxygen during exercise.
This not only reduces exercise effectiveness but also increases the risk of cardiovascular and kidney diseases, according to Sciencedaily.
A new study led by sports medicine professor Sarah Lessard (Canada) has given a surprising approach. Instead of limiting fat in the diet, increasing fat intake can help improve the body's response to physical activity.
The above study was published in the scientific journal Nature Communications. The research team found that mice fed a ketogenic diet - a diet high in fat and very low in carbohydrates - significantly reduced high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia.
Only after a week of applying this diet, the blood sugar level of mice returns to normal levels. At the same time, their muscles respond better to exercise.
According to Ms. Lessard, this diet also changes muscle structure in the direction of increasing the ability to use oxygen. Rat muscles form many tolerated muscle fibers, a type of fiber related to endurance.
The ketogenic diet is named after the state of "ketosis", when the body moves from using sugar as the main energy source to burning fat.
Therefore, this diet often includes fatty foods and strongly restricts carbohydrates, in contrast to low-fat diets that were widely recommended before.
In the experiment, mice both followed a high-fat diet and exercised regularly on running wheels. Over time, their muscles developed many slow-contracting muscle fibers, which help increase endurance and long-term mobility.
Researchers believe that the greatest health benefits can be achieved when combining a diet suitable for physical activity, instead of considering these two factors as separate strategies.
The research team plans to expand human trials in the future to determine whether similar effects will appear. However, scientists also noted that the ketogenic diet is quite strict and not everyone can easily maintain it.
Therefore, some experts believe that more balanced diets, allowing the use of carbohydrates from natural foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, may be a more practical choice for many people.
The information in the article is for reference only, not for medical diagnosis or treatment. You should talk directly to your doctor for accurate and appropriate advice to your health condition.
