The Keto Diet Isn’t For Everyone

Most people have heard of the Keto diet. Because of its popularity, you or your friends may have looked into or tried this diet. The primary goal for most people is to lose weight with Keto, however, this regimen is not safe for everyone. As expected, pregnant women and nursing mothers should not use this eating plan. And because of health concerns, there are other people who should choose other options besides Keto.

Diabetic

The Keto diet involves consuming about 70 to 80 percent of calories from fat, 5 to 10 percent from carbohydrates and 10 to 20 percent from protein. By restricting almost all carbohydrate intake and even limiting protein intake, the ketogenic diet forces your liver to start producing substances called ketone bodies to supply the brain and body with the energy it needs to function.

Many people following the Keto diet will deal with bouts of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, at least initially. This can become dangerous if your blood sugar is not stable to begin with and/or you’re taking medication to control diabetes. It is better to follow a low glycemic index diet instead.

Kidney Issues

If you or any family member has a history with any kidney problems, a discussion with your health provider is suggested BEFORE taking on the Keto plan.

There is a risk of kidney stones with this diet. Even if your health professional approves the use of this diet, it is important to stay monitored with calcium levels in the kidneys by simple urine analysis.

Thyroid

The Ketogenic diet was found to reduce epileptic seizures in young people. It has been around a very long time. Because of the low carbohydrates in the plan, the body reaches a state of ketosis.

This state can worsen thyroid-related symptoms such as brain fog, healthy sleeping, changes in mood, and digestion problems. All of these should be discussed before attempting the diet. And it is suggested, anyone on thyroid medication be regularly monitored and checked for worsening symptoms. Sometimes, the increase of carbohydrates can fix this but this will go against the Keto plan, so we can discuss all other options with you.