Top Risks You Must Watch out for When You are on Keto Diet
A Keto diet is an eating pattern that restricts carbohydrates to a significant extent—usually about 20 to 50 grams per day. Instead, it uses fats to provide for the body’s caloric needs. This diet, which was initially used as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy in children, has become quite popular for its benefits in helping people lose weight quickly. Nonetheless, one should be aware of certain health risks associated with the keto diet while starting the diet. Below are a few of the most common dangers that the keto diet may pose.
Keto Flu
In the initial few days of following a keto diet, a person may suffer from what is generally called keto flu. For the most part, keto flu is the body’s reaction to the new, rather drastic dietary adjustments as the body starts shifting to the ketosis phase. The symptoms usually include fatigue, nausea, headaches, dizziness, mild insomnia, etc. Mostly, keto flu symptoms go away with time without needing any treatment. An effective way to cope with keto flu is to drink plenty of water, as dehydration is a major underlying cause of keto flu.
Nutritional Deficiency
The Keto diet restricts many foods that make up a significant portion of a standard nutritionally balanced diet. This may result in nutritional deficiency, which can adversely impact the overall health in the long run. It is, therefore, crucial to ensure that the body is not deprived of any of the essential nutrients. Avoiding processed and junk food is an excellent strategy to keep the keto diet nutritionally balanced.
Kidney Problems
The risk of the formation of kidney stones following the keto diet as a medically prescribed treatment of epilepsy is quite common. Increased meat intake and other foods, particularly rich in protein, may overburden the kidneys. Moreover, increased levels of ketones in the body may also result in renal complications. People with past or existing kidney problems must consult their doctor before making extreme dietary changes.
Liver Problems
Keto diet mainly relies on a metabolic process called ketosis, hence the name of the diet. Ketosis requires the liver to produce ketone bodies out of stored fat to provide an alternative source of energy, resulting in the burning of the excess fat and thereby the weight loss. This may lead to overloading the liver. Consequently, any existing liver condition can be aggravated on the keto diet.
Yo-yo Effect
The Yo-yo effect, also known as yo-yo dieting or weight cycling, refers to a cyclic gain and loss of weight, usually due to the frequent changes in the diet. Sustaining a keto diet for the long term is tricky because it is pretty restrictive and requires significant changes in the diet. Therefore, if healthy habits such as a proper workout routine are not built with dieting, it may be challenging to retain the weight loss benefits of the diet.
Health issues that you might face, when following the keto diet does not possess high alert. With proper knowledge and balanced food intake, you can minimize the risks and continue following a keto diet and enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
