The low carbohydrate and high-fat diet have emerged as one of the popular ways of losing weight but do weigh in some cons of this diet before jumping right into it.
Recently Keto diet is everywhere, dieticians, celebrities are singing praises about it. So, what is the Keto diet? Keto diet or Ketogenic diet is a diet that is focused on the extreme deficit of carbohydrate intake. We all know that the human body primarily depends on glucose as a fuel and in low carb diets, the body finally starts to break the stored fat, and the body starts to switch to ketone fuel (which are molecules that are produced on the breakage of fat). This diet restricts the use of many things such as different grains, dessert, sugar. Due to its promise of radical weight loss, it has managed to garner much attention. But this diet can also possess some unpleasant effectson the body.
Smelly breath
One of the main side effects of the Keto diet is that it can lead to very smelly breath at times. The reason behind it is when fatty acids are converted into Ketones, which are the natural chemicals our body produces when we burn fat for energy. These include Acetoacetate, acetone, and beta-hydroxybutyrate. Because of the presence of acetone, your breath can smell like nail polish remover which may be uncomfortable and unappealing to people around you.
Succumbing to “Keto Flu”
Another symptom that may appear after starting a ketogenic diet is “Keto Flu”. You can experience some of the symptoms of this flu such as fatigue, nausea, difficulty sleeping, headaches, foggy brain, irritability. It is also believed that these symptoms will disappear on their own but can reallybothersome to many.
The possibility of low blood sugar can make the Keto diet quite risky for people with diabetes
Did you know that carbohydrates help control blood sugar levels? A study recently revealed that even though the Keto diet can help control HbA1 levels but it can also trigger episodes of hypoglycemia(which means a sudden drop in blood sugar level). Dietitians are often reluctant to recommend a Ketogenic diet to people with diabetes especially type 1.
You may face nutritional deficiencies after following the Keto diet
It often happens that when there is a zero intake of carbohydrates, consumption of fiber is also quite low which can lead to the deficiency of potassium. Potassium is quite essential for blood pressure control and electrolyte balance.
It is better to consult your physician or dietician before beginning the Keto diet.
