A reason to eat carbs

A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate eating plan that forces the body to burn fatty acids instead of carbohydrates for energy.

Normally, the body uses carbohydrates (found in foods like bread, rice, and fruits) as its primary fuel source.

When carbohydrates are scarce, the liver converts fats into molecules called ketone bodies, such as BHB (beta-hydroxybutyrate), which become the main energy source.

This metabolic state is called ketosis.

While this diet has been linked to weight loss and potential protection against colon cancer in some studies, new research suggests it may have different effects on other parts of the digestive system.

The study was led by Omer Yilmaz, director of the MIT Stem Cell Initiative, along with postdocs Jessica Shay and Fangtao Chi, and was published in Technology Review on October 20, 2026.