Halle Berry, Kourtney Kardashian, and Jenna Jameson are just a few celebrities who have endorsed the ketogenic diet, sometimes referred to as the “keto diet” or just “keto.” The goal of the diet is to get the body into a state of ketosis, when it must burn fat for energy instead of sugar, by drastically reducing the amount of carbs consumed—to 50 grams or less per day.
The keto diet is recommended by medical professionals for the treatment of epilepsy; it’s not apparent why this is the case, but being in a ketogenic state tends to lessen the frequency of seizures.
In addition to helping people lose weight, a review published in Frontiers in Nutrition in July 2021 supported the benefits of ketogenic diets in reducing seizure frequency in those with drug-resistant epilepsy.
Keto is a contentious weight-loss strategy in general. Some medical professionals strongly advise against it, citing unpleasant side effects, health hazards, and the unsustainable nature of the diet. Even many advocates of the ketogenic diet acknowledge that the diet might be unhealthy if it is not followed “the right way.”
Before attempting the ketogenic diet as a weight-loss method, you should be aware of the following. Yes, you might lose weight, but you should also be aware of the following problems or side effects.
Some people claim that when they first enter ketosis, they simply feel ill, according to Kristen Kizer, RD, a dietician at Kingston, Australia’s SportsTec Clinic. Vomit, stomach distress, extreme weariness, and lethargy can occasionally occur. According to Kizer, this ‘keto flu’ normally goes away within a few days.
According to clinical nutritionist and doctor of natural medicine Josh Axe, roughly 25% of people who try the keto diet suffer these symptoms, with exhaustion being the most prevalent. Your body has to start using fat as a source of energy when it runs out of sugar, according to Axe. Your body will feel exhausted for a few days just from that shift alone.
