Tips before starting a KETO diet

The keto diet, also called ketogenic diet, is in vogue. Many people, including celebrities, have decided to follow this type of diet to lose weight. But is the keto diet really advisable, is it good for your health, and can it be followed in the long or short term? If you want to know all the necessary facts about the keto diet, read on below.

The keto diet is actually the ketogenic diet, a type of diet that was created at the beginning of the last century for purely therapeutic purposes. Its main purpose was to treat diseases such as, for example, epilepsy. But today this diet has gone a step further and thousands of people have already joined this type of diet.

The ketogenic diet is characterized by a low carbohydrate intake. It prioritizes the consumption of proteins and fats. Thus, by reducing carbohydrate intake to a minimum, the main fuel of the cells is eliminated, so that the metabolism is forced to use fats to provide energy to the cells that need it.

The use of fatty acids generates ketone compounds, which are an alternative energy source to carbohydrates.

What are the risks of the ketogenic diet?

Although occasionally this type of diet may not have risks, it is true that its continued use may pose some risks to consider.

The keto diet can produce a lack of vitamins and minerals since, in the long run, it is a type of unbalanced diet. It is important to take into account that the presence of fruits and vegetables is almost nil, which leads to a deficit of the micronutrients provided by these foods. This is why those people who maintain a ketogenic diet must eventually use food supplements.

When ketosis is maintained for a long time, ketoacidosis occurs, which is the lowering of the pH of the blood. This has repercussions on oxygen transport, which could be life-threatening.

Constipation, bad breath and even having an irritable character are other risks of following the ketogenic diet for a long period of time.

For whom is the keto diet contraindicated?

The keto diet is strongly discouraged for people suffering from kidney or liver disease. It is also not recommended for people who have had an eating disorder or are trying to come out of one.

As with intermittent fasting, the ketogenic diet must be very controlled so as not to cause any health problems. Moreover, this type of keto diet was devised to treat specific diseases, such as epilepsy or rare metabolic diseases, so it is always recommended to take a medical control and supplementation.

Keto, in specific cases, can help with weight loss, but it is important not to follow this type of diet for more than a month at a time.