Why You Should Never Do Keto
You’ve probably heard of the keto diet by now. It’s all the rage these days, with people all over the internet claiming that it’s helped them lose weight, gain energy, and feel better overall. But what is the keto diet, and is it really as good as people say it is? Let’s take a closer look.
What is the keto diet?
The keto diet is a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet that forces your body into a state of ketosis. In other words, it forces your body to burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy.
Proponents of the diet claim that it can help you lose weight quickly, improve cognitive performance, and even prevent or reverse some of the negative effects of aging. However, there are also some significant downsides to the diet that you should be aware of before you decide to try it yourself.
10 reasons why you shouldn’t do keto
1. You’ll miss out on important nutrients
As with any restrictive diet, the keto diet can cause you to miss out on essential nutrients that your body needs. Since it eliminates many fruits and vegetables, you won’t be getting the vitamins and minerals they contain.
Some of the most important nutrients that you might be missing out on are fiber, folate, calcium, and vitamin C. Over time, this can lead to deficiencies that may result in health problems.
2. It’s not sustainable in the long term
The keto diet is not meant to be a long-term solution. In fact, most people who try it end up reverting to their old eating habits after a few months or even weeks.
This can lead to yo-yo dieting, which can cause additional health problems due to sudden changes in your eating habits.
3. You might experience side effects like the “keto flu”
When you switch to the keto diet, your body may go through a period of adjustment known as the “keto flu.” During this time, you might experience symptoms like fatigue, headaches, nausea, and constipation.
These symptoms can last for several weeks and are caused by your body’s sudden shift from burning carbs to burning fat.
4. It’s not suitable for everyone
The keto diet may be unsuitable for some people, including athletes and pregnant women. It’s also not recommended for anyone under the age of 18 as they may still be growing and developing.
Also, if you have medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, it’s best to talk to your doctor before starting the diet.
5. It’s not necessarily more effective than other diets
Contrary to popular belief, the keto diet is not necessarily more effective than other diets. Studies have shown that the differences in weight loss between low-carb and low-fat diets are often small.
What’s more, other diets like the Mediterranean diet may be better for overall health due to their emphasis on whole foods.
6. Your favorite foods will be off-limits
Let’s be honest, food is delicious! And unfortunately, many of your favorite foods will be off-limits when you’re on the keto diet.
This can make it hard to stay motivated and stick with the diet in the long run. After all, who wants to give up delicious treats like ice cream and pizza forever?
7. Keto may exacerbate kidney issues
If you have pre-existing kidney problems, going on the keto diet can put extra strain on your kidneys. This is because when your body enters ketosis, it produces a substance called ketones that can cause increased acidity in the urine.
This can make existing kidney problems worse, as well as put you at risk of developing new ones.
8. It can be expensive and time-consuming to follow
The keto diet can be expensive and time-consuming to maintain, especially if you’re eating mostly organic, grass-fed, and non-GMO food.
You’ll also need to track your carb intake and calculate your macros carefully if you want to stay in ketosis. Over time, this will no doubt become a hassle, and it may be hard to keep up with the diet’s restrictions.
9. It will cause bad breath
One of the most common side effects of the keto diet is bad breath, known as “keto breath.” This is caused by the ketones that are produced when you switch to a low-carb diet. The ketones have a strong, unpleasant smell that can make your breath smell bad.
Although this is said to be a temporary issue, bad breath for any length of time can be annoying and off-putting.
10. It will impede your social life
The keto diet can hurt your social life, as many of the foods available in restaurants and at social gatherings are off-limits to you.
Not only will you have a terrible time trying to find keto-friendly food at social events, but you may also find it hard to resist temptation when everyone else is indulging in all the delicious food available.
What’s more, your friends and family members might not want to invite you out as much if it means they have to make alternative food arrangements for you.
Final word
Dieting of any kind always comes with a certain degree of risk, and the keto diet is no exception. Sure, it may help you lose weight and feel more energetic, but how long that lasts and how long you can keep it up is another story.
Before you jump on the keto bandwagon, make sure to do some research and talk to your doctor about the potential risks. That way, you can make an informed decision that works for you.
Good luck!