The keto diet might just be the most popular idea in the unconventional health and fitness world right now. More than ever before, a wider audience is considering low-carb diets, especially the keto diet. Why? Because it has proven to be very effective in losing weight and improving overall health.

The keto diet is a low-carb, moderate protein and high-fat type of eating. Keto works by changing the way your body turns food into energy. The goal of the ketogenic diet is to put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. This is achieved, when you cut out carbs from your daily menu, forcing to deplete all the glucose sources in your body.

Whenever your body doesn’t have enough glucose, it naturally starts looking for other sources of energy. For that, your body starts producing ketone bodies by breaking down fats. This is how your body adapts to lack of carbs. Going keto basically means, that you switch your body from burning glucose to burning fat.

The keto diet was developed during the 1920s by Dr. Russel Wilder, to be used as a treatment for childhood epilepsy. It was effective and widely used.

Once you are in ketosis, you can enjoy all the benefits keto diet offers: effective weight management, stable energy levels, less cravings, increased mental performance and much more.

The ketogenic diet has been shown to be very effective for weight management and as a natural health booster, but the ketogenic lifestyle is not for everyone. There are some potential health-based drawbacks. This affects especially women because it can disrupt hormonal production and nutritional deficiencies. Before considering the ketogenic lifestyle , verify your health status with your doctor.

If you find yourself in one of the following situations, then the ketogenic lifestyle may not be the right one for you. 

1. If you have serious blood sugar issues

Many people will experience low blood sugar during the keto diet, at least initially. This can be dangerous if you are on diabetes medication or just struggling with unstable blood sugar. Yes, there are lots of research done on a topic how can be managed through low-carb diets, but to be safe, people with a history of diabetes or hypoglycemia should consider ketogenic diet only when being monitored closely by their doctor . This is especially true because often diabetes medication dosages need to be adjusted as the diet is very restrictive.

2. If you have a history of an eating disorder

If you have a history of eating disorder, then you might want to pass the ketogenic diet. This is because the ketogenic diet, at its core, is pretty restrictive. Scientific research has shown, that low carb diets seem to be particularly effective up to 6 months, that is because after that people tend to give up and start eating same old things. This is why the keto diet is more as a lifestyle choice, not a crash diet.

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3. If you have adrenal fatigue

Adrenal fatigue is often developed thanks to various stress factors. Research also shows that adrenal fatigued combined with the ketogenic diet tends to make the condition worse. Mainly because of the spike in cortisol levels. Some symptoms can be insomnia, muscle soreness, irregular heartbeat, depression and much more. Adrenal fatigue takes place when the body is under chronic stressors and the adrenal glands can no longer keep up with the demands . The ketogenic diet is just additional stressor for your body and mind (in the beginning) that you don’t need.

4. If you have a hypothyroidism

The thyroid helps to regulate your metabolism and energy levels. Insulin is needed to convert the inactive thyroid hormone into active (T4 to T3). When following the ketogenic diet, you will restrict carbohydrates intake to the point, where there is not enough insulin available. A recent study has shown, that people with hypothyroidism who are on a ketogenic diet, have reported their symptoms to get worse when following the ketogenic type of eating style.

5. If you have a history of gut dysbiosis

The ketogenic diet can alter gut flora. If you have a history of gut dysbiosis, then you need to be extremely careful when considering the ketogenic diet, because it can reduce the diversity of the gut microbiota. You need prebiotic fiber for a healthy gut and many beneficial prebiotic fibers come from carbohydrate sources. As with the keto diet, you will cut out most carb sources, your microbiota can shift to other direction which can, in turn, contribute to digestive problems, skin issues and more. One way to cope with that is to manage your fiber intake during the diet.

6. If you are nutrient deficient

Although to diet is high-fat diet, it’s not uncommon, that the weight loss can occur very rapidly, if the diet is followed properly. If you are already underweight or deficient in nutrients, the keto diet is not recommended. If you lose weight easily, a moderate diet that includes complex carbs and healthy fats and proteins may be a better fit. Although the variety of ketogenic foods is pretty big, it lacks many fiber-rich foods, as you need to eliminate all the grains and starchy vegetables from the daily menu.

7. You have a history of kidney disease

Following the keto diet, increases the risk of kidney stones. This is an unfortunate side-effect. If you are prone to kidney problems, then it might be smart to keep away from keto. Now, we all might have experienced kidney stones in some time during our lives, does this mean I should never do anything anymore? Definitely no. If you are still interested managing weight using keto diet, we suggest to consult with your doctor and let them check your urine calcium-creatinine ratio. In this way, you can be sure you are not putting pressure on your kidneys.

It’s important to understand, that keto diet causes disruption to your everyday life. It requires you to change your behavior, your habits, and foods you eat. Keto is not just any other Western diet, where one day you can do a cheat day and start over whenever if feels like it. Listen to your body and know what you can and cannot handle. Just because everyone else seems to be adapting to the keto diet, does not mean that you have to do it in that way.

If you have any medical conditions, then definitely consult with your doctor, before you will consider starting the ketogenic diet.

Author bio: Alex Reed is a health enthusiast, whose mission is to help to change lives, using the ketogenic lifestyle. So everyone can benefit from ketosis and the magical effects it has on the human body.

Website: Website: Body Ketosis

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