Exploring Possible Side Effects Of The Keto Diet

Keto dieting is the new diet fad, forcing you to increase your fat intake in the hopes of losing weight fast! But the way you eat doesn’t only affect your weight; it impacts your entire body.

The diet is structured around a low-carb, high-fat intake that is supposed to put your body in the metabolic state of ketosis, which is only reached after four days. This means your body is burning fat in place of the carbs.

This diet was initially designed for people who suffer from insulin resistance without type-2 diabetes or obesity. Before trying out a diet, you should be aware of how it can affect your body, so here are some possible side effects of the keto diet.

Keto Flu

During the start of the diet, some people experience the keto flu. It’s the body’s way of adapting to using fats as a source of energy. Symptoms are usually experienced as headaches, dizziness, nausea, constipation, and vomiting.

Ketones are also removed from the body through urination, and when you keep running to the bathroom, you may be losing electrolytes, and you might experience dehydration symptoms. Increasing your fluid intake can help alleviate the symptoms.

It’s not a great feeling to experience when you start a new diet with the hopes of creating a healthier lifestyle. However, the symptoms should go away in a few days once the body adjusts to the changes.

You'll consume less fruit and vegetables because some of them contain carbs and aren't keto-approved. Cutting out things like fiber that isn't part of the keto diet can make you constipated. If you already suffer from constipation, you might want to consider opting for a different diet option.

It Affects Your Heart And Kidneys

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering out electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium. Loss of these minerals can affect your organs and lead to conditions like acute kidney injury.

If you're not replacing the water, you lose, running to the bathroom every chance you get. You can even get kidney stones.

An electrolyte imbalance in the rest of your body results from the loss, and your heart is deprived of the nutrients it needs. The rate or the rhythm of your heartbeat is altered, which could prolong the flu symptoms and lead to a cardiac arrhythmia.

This high fat intake results in high levels of lipids and cholesterol in your blood, increasing your risks for cardiovascular diseases, which affect your blood vessels. This can increase your chances of having a stroke or a heart attack.

It's A Yo-Yo Diet

People often struggle to stick to the diet because of its severe restrictions. This leads to fluctuations in weight. And you can easily pick up the weight you lose because most weight loss, in the beginning, is water weight.

Athletic Performance

Carbs fuel your exercises, and without them, you can find it difficult with weightlifting activities. It can result in you becoming less efficient during your exercise time.

It can affect your memory, and remembering things can become difficult. It can also lead to suffering from headaches, and you can even become confused. So if you struggle with your mental health, this diet can impact it further, and you might want to consider a different diet plan.