Keto diet is "here to stay" for longevity and health optimisation, entrepreneur tells biohacking summit

BEKETO founder Jan K Gorczynski highlights century-old diet's role in tackling modern health challenges

The ketogenic diet is not merely a passing trend but a scientifically-backed nutritional approach that will remain relevant for years to come, according to a leading entrepreneur in the low-carb food industry.

Speaking at the HOLOLIFE Summit 2025 Europe in Tallinn, Estonia, Jan K Gorczynski, founder and CEO of BEKETO, told attendees that the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet offers significant benefits for longevity and overall health optimisation.

"Keto has been around for over a hundred years," Gorczynski said during his presentation on Friday. "At this conference, we talk a lot about longevity, but not as much about keto and its role."

From epilepsy treatment to mainstream health movement

Gorczynski explained that the ketogenic diet was first developed in the 1920s in the United States as a treatment for epilepsy in children. Since then, substantial scientific research has demonstrated its effectiveness for various health conditions.

"Over the past ten years, the number of doctors worldwide who promote and prescribe keto for a variety of diseases has doubled," he noted, highlighting the diet's growing acceptance in the medical community.

According to Gorczynski, the key mechanism behind the ketogenic diet is shifting the body's fuel source from glucose (derived from carbohydrates) to ketones (produced from fat), inducing a metabolic state called ketosis.

Beyond weight loss: keto's connection to longevity

While many people associate keto with weight loss, Gorczynski emphasised its broader implications for longevity through multiple pathways:

"Keto induces a lot of key factors important to longevity," he said, listing autophagy (the body's cellular cleaning process), improved metabolic health, enhanced brain function, reduced inflammation, better mental health, and weight management.

The entrepreneur highlighted how maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for longevity, pointing out alarming statistics: "In Europe, 56% are overweight, and 20% are obese." He explained that keto helps suppress appetite through hormonal regulation, making it easier for people to maintain a healthy weight long-term.

Practical biohacking tools for optimised health

During his presentation, Gorczynski demonstrated practical biohacking tools that complement the ketogenic lifestyle, distributing mouth and nose tapes to the audience.

"This is about what we're here for: biohacking and optimising our health," he explained. "You put it on when you go to sleep or, if you're a professional athlete, during training or performance—it increases your oxygen intake through the nose."

These simple tools represent the growing interest in accessible biohacking techniques that can enhance sleep quality and breathing efficiency—factors that Gorczynski emphasised are critical for longevity alongside dietary approaches.

Medical applications gaining scientific recognition

The presentation detailed how the ketogenic diet has shown promise in supporting or potentially helping treat various medical conditions:

"There's a huge body of research showing keto supports and potentially helps with drug-resistant epilepsy, type 2 diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, fatty liver disease, and sclerosis," Gorczynski told the audience.

He specifically noted that ketogenic approaches are "the only known medical way to cure" type 2 diabetes, a claim that reflects emerging research on carbohydrate restriction for diabetes management.

Adaptable approach for sustainable implementation

Addressing concerns about the diet's sustainability, Gorczynski acknowledged that keto can be adapted to different needs and lifestyles.

"You can do keto in cycles—seasonal or cyclical keto, depending on the time of year," he explained, noting that women in particular might benefit from cyclical approaches that align with hormonal fluctuations.

This flexibility, he argued, makes keto more sustainable long-term than more rigid dietary approaches.

Business success reflects growing market

Gorczynski's business credentials lend weight to his prediction about keto's staying power. Since launching BEKETO in 2020, he has expanded the brand to 30 countries with over 170 products focusing on organic ingredients and keto-compatible formulations.

"We're backed by science and driven by performance," he said of his company, which has contributed to the mainstreaming of ketogenic products across Europe.

As the HOLOLIFE Summit continues through the weekend in Tallinn, attendees will explore additional biohacking and longevity topics, but Gorczynski's passionate advocacy for ketogenic approaches has established it as a central strategy in the quest for optimised health and extended lifespan.

"Be keto, be cool!" he concluded, inviting summit participants to continue the conversation at his company's exhibition stand.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the ketogenic diet?

Older than the trend suggests. Jan K Gorczynski told the Tallinn summit that the ketogenic diet was first developed in the 1920s in the United States as a treatment for epilepsy in children, and that over the past ten years the number of doctors worldwide prescribing it has doubled.

How does keto connect to longevity?

Gorczynski listed autophagy, the body's cellular cleaning process, alongside improved metabolic health, enhanced brain function, reduced inflammation, better mental health and weight management. His argument is that weight loss is the least interesting of keto's effects.

What else did he demonstrate on stage?

Gorczynski handed out mouth and nose tapes, to be worn during sleep or, for professional athletes, during training and performance, on the basis that they increase oxygen intake through the nose. He presented them as practical tools that complement a ketogenic lifestyle.

About the event

This recap is part of the HOLOLIFE Summit 2025 Europe series, recorded in Tallinn on 14 and 15 June 2025. Read the summary of the whole event or join the next edition, HOLOLIFE Summit 2026 Amsterdam, on 14 and 15 November 2026.