The Keto diet is strictly not advisable for the ones with extra high levels of blood glucose, diabetes type 1 or type 2 who are taking regular doses of Insulin, Metformin supplements and other forms of medication since the Keto diet can have adverse effects on the medications.
Ketogenic diet is one of the global trending low carb diets which people around the globe like to follow, keeping in mind the endless health benefits it offers.Keto has many health benefits, it will not only help with fat loss but also cures a lot of kidney diseases, heart diseases, brain disorders and reduces the risk factor s related to many other common ailments.
Keto is a popular diet choice amongst today’s generation because they generally suffer from many kinds of small and big health related issues due to their lifestyle and food habits. An ideal Keto Diet, has 5% gram of net carbs ( which is less than 50 grams of carbs and ideally not more than 20 gram of carbs) , 20% protein rich food and a massive 75% fat content so that the body has enough fat for producing energy from it with the help of proteins.
HEALTH BENEFITS
The Ketogenic diet was introduced in the 19th century basically for the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes and ever since then it has been effective in curing deadly diseases such as epilepsy, autism, PCOS related problems etc.
Today around millions of people follow the Keto diet for diabetes and epilepsy diseases and get back to their good state of health in long term or short term depending on their body structure and how the body responds to diet.
Research and studies show that the Keto diet is also capable of curing some rare kinds of cancers in the long term. Inculcating the Keto diet in your lifestyle would lead to overall body fitness and proper health.
The Keto diet is mostly followed for losing weight, burning off the extra body fat. It helps get rid of bad cholesterol, saves the body from being prone to heart attack, type 2 diabetes and other diseases.
WHO SHOULD AVOID KETO?
The Keto diet is undoubtedly great provided that it gives so many health benefits but not every doctor or health specialist prescribes the keto diet or the ketogenic diet to people, since everyone has a different body metabolism and different reactions to specific diet doses.
Also, people with previous disease history or serious health conditions, eating disorders, lethargic, skinny , allergic to specific food items, people who need specific gram of carbs (which is more than the ideal gram of carbs prescribed in the Keto diet) should refrain from following the diet because it can have adverse effects as well.
Therefore before following a Ketogenic diet (or any other diet which has its strict rules and guidelines, a person should undergo a health checkup, including the blood sugar level, allergy tests to rule out the chances of rare health complications which could worsen the health after following Keto.
SIDE EFFECTS OF KETO DIET
Here are some common side effects of the Ketogenic diet:
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In the initial days when the body adapts itself from glucose to ketones for energy, it experiences flu-like symptoms, also called Keto-flu which might include problems like dizziness, headaches, frequent urination, muscle cramps.
In the initial days the body tends to lose a lot of water, sodium and other minerals like potassium, zinc , magnesium etc which might lead to loss of excessive water and cause problems like dehydration, constipation etc. So it is necessary that the dieter makes sure to consume a lot of water in the initial days at least.
Low blood sugar level also known as hypoglycemia is another common side effect. The symptoms include fatigue, hunger, confusion, anxiety, irritability, tachycardia, light-headedness, shakiness, sweating etc. However it is temporary and might not cause much side effects. Still if it causes a long term effect, a doctor should be consulted.
When the body initially attains ketosis , it results in low urine pH which leads to bone erosion and gradually to hypercalciuria and other calcium deficiency related diseases follow.
In extreme cases the low pH levels can lead to formation of crystals and kidney stones. Such people should better not try the diet because it can shrink their immunity and can cause bone marrow cancer in the extreme cases.
Some women might experience disruption in their menstrual cycle, and in some cases, amenorrhea which means complete absence of periods before the menopause age. In this case, the woman should leave the Keto diet immediately and consult her gynaecologist and dietitian for a proper diet.
PEOPLE WITH THESE HEALTH CONDITIONS SHOULD NOT FOLLOW THE KETO DIET
Hence, keeping these side effects in sight, people with the certain health conditions should not resort to a Ketogenic diet:
Underweight People-
People who are suffering from excessively low weight problems or have lost weight recently due to some disease or health complications should refrain from following the Keto diet since it is a low carb diet and light weighted people need instant energy in the form of glucose.Apart from this as well, there might be certain health side effects as well.
People facing an eating disorder-
People facing eating disorders, which might be excessive food swings or not feeling to eat all should strictly not follow the Keto diet since it is a very balanced diet and will not show any desired results if not followed properly which is not possible with people with food disorders since it can be painful for them.
In such people, Keto diet could cause other severe problems and can lead to psychological discomfort and imbalances in the body which becomes fatal in the extreme cases.
Children below the age of 18-
Children below the age of 18 are under age to follow a specific diet unless prescribed by a doctor due to some problem like obesity.Children below 18 are still growing and are in the adolescent stage of life where they need adequate intake of fats, carbs and proteins along with all the other nutrients. Keto diet follows a restrictive diet which can hamper the overall development of the growing body.
Diabetes on insulin, metformin or other medications-
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The Keto diet is strictly not advisable for the ones with extra high levels of blood glucose, diabetes type 1 or type 2 who are taking regular doses of Insulin, Metformin supplements and other forms of medication since the Keto diet can have adverse effects on the medications.
There are still lesser observations of the Keto supplements reaction on insulin and metformin doses which makes it harmful for the patient to consume a Ketogenic diet without the approval of the doctor. However the diet chart of a diabetic and a Keto dieter are almost the same, i.e low carb but the quantity of the intake differs and there is no specific research on this.
PREGNANT AND LACTATING WOMEN
Pregnant women are advised not to follow the keto diet since it is a low carb diet and going on a low-carb diet in pregnancy might affect the baby's weight, and how he develops.
It may also prevent the mother's body from getting the nutrients which she needs during that crucial period.The keto diet can also lead to developmental delays in the baby and cause nutritional deficiencies which can lead to serious problems for both pregnant women and their babies even after the woman conceives the baby.
On the other hand, lactating women are also advised to avoid this diet since when breastfeeding, a low carb intake can lead to a dangerous condition called ketoacidosis. It seems to be related to the metabolic changes and increased nutritional demands of producing milk which will be badly affected due to ketosis happening in the body.
PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY
Consuming eating a high-fat and low carbs diet after surgery will reduce the patient's total body fat because a ketogenic diet encourages the body to burn fat as energy. Following a Keto diet just after a surgery might lead to serious deficiency diseases in the patient as the body is in the recovering stage and needs all the proper food nutrients for a speedy recovery. Hence, it is not advisable.
Apart from the above mentioned health conditions, those who are frail or have a significant underlying medical condition should consult their doctors and dietitians first. People with any sort of unknown disease or allergy should go for a routine checkup before following the Keto diet.At the end, whichever diet you follow, your wellbeing matters the most.
Keto Means
Photo: Andrea Piacquadio
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