The ketogenic diet has been around for decades, but it has exploded in popularity recently. Long touted as a way to lose weight and improve health, the keto diet is also used by some athletes for its performance-enhancing benefits. However, there are several risks associated with this popular diet that many people don’t realize until it’s too late. Can Keto cause health Problems? Let’s find out.
What is Keto Diet?
The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, is a dietary approach that focuses on eating high-fat foods and very few carbohydrates. It’s the most popular type of low-carb diet since it allows you to eat butter and bacon without guilt.
The low-carb nature of the keto diet means you can eat more protein than other diets without feeling bloated. As long as you’re monitoring your carb intake, you can eat more fat and still reach your goal weight in no time at all.
Long Term Benefits of Keto Diet
- Weight loss: One of the primary benefits of the keto diet is that it helps you lose weight by triggering the body to burn fat for fuel instead of carbs. This helps reduce insulin levels and lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
- Mental health: Another benefit of this diet is that it improves mental health by increasing brain function, lowering inflammation in your body and reducing symptoms associated with depression.
Is Keto Unhealthy? Side Effects of Keto Diet
- Ketogenic diets are not without side effects. As with any diet, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons before making a decision on whether it’s right for you. Side effects may include:
- Keto flu (fatigue and dizziness)
- Constipation from lack of fiber in the diet
- Kidney stones or gallstones from too much fat in your diet
- Vitamin deficiencies due to lack of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes
1.DiabetesÂ
Diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar. Your body uses glucose for energy, and the pancreas releases insulin to help move it into your cells. When you eat foods with carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into smaller molecules called glucose. The liver converts these molecules into glycogen (long chains of sugar) and stores it until your body needs it as an energy source.
If there’s not enough insulin in your system or if the insulin isn’t working properly, then sugar levels rise. It’s important to keep tabs on this because diabetes can cause serious issues like heart disease and stroke—which is why it’s essential to consult with a doctor before making any major changes to what you eat or how much exercise you get each day.
 2.Higher cholesterol levels
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that the body needs to make hormones and build cell membranes. It’s a type of lipid that circulates through the bloodstream, carried by proteins called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which transports cholesterol around the body; and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which carries cholesterol away from the arteries back to your liver where it can be removed from your body via your bile.
High levels of LDL cholesterol lead to heart disease while HDL protects against it by taking excess fat away from arteries and transporting it back to your liver where it can be broken down and excreted as waste products.
3.Hormonal issues
Hormonal issues are a common problem for both men and women, but men are particularly at risk for hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances can cause issues like depression, weight gain, muscle loss and fatigue. The keto diet can make you more susceptible to these problems because it’s so low in nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin D that help regulate hormone levels.
You can correct these issues by eating more nutrient-dense foods or taking supplements if necessary (or both). A diet rich in whole foods like leafy greens and legumes will give you all the nutrients your body needs to function properly—especially if you’re following the keto diet! If you’re concerned about hormonal problems or other physical symptoms caused by unhealthy eating patterns, talk with a doctor who specializes in nutrition counseling to develop an individualized plan just for you.
4.Chronic heart disease
The keto diet can cause blood pressure to drop temporarily.
The result of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the keto diet had no effect on blood pressure.
However, another study found that some people experienced an increase in blood pressure after following the keto diet for one year. This increase was seen most commonly in those with hypertension before starting the diet (high blood pressure).
In addition, other studies have shown an initial rise in diastolic and systolic pressures during fasting periods followed by reductions after 24 hours and 36 hours respectively with no changes after 72 hours.
There is limited evidence as to whether this increase is caused by weight loss itself or due to dehydration or low salt consumption while following this diet plan which could lead to increased strain on your heart’s ability to pump enough fluid throughout your body resulting in higher than normal levels of circulating fluid outside your cells causing them “squeezing” together more tightly so there isn’t any extra space between them anymore (this process would be similar if you were trying filling up a bucket full of water without any holes yet still had room left over–the only solution here would be using something else like sand/mud etc.).
5.Chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease is a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure, which is when your kidneys no longer filter blood effectively. Chronic kidney disease can also cause hypertension, heart failure and anemia.
To keep track of your kidney functionality:
- Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year.
- Eat healthy food and drink water every day to help maintain a healthy weight and avoid diabetes (a risk factor for chronic kidney disease).
- Get regular exercise to build up muscle mass, which helps control blood pressure by improving circulation throughout the body. Take short walks or do strength training exercises at home or in the gym several times per week.
If you have symptoms of chronic kidney disease, see your doctor right away so they can start treatment before it gets worse and damage becomes irreversible—and make sure they know if you’re on any medications that could affect how well they work.
6.Nutrient deficiencies
The keto diet can cause a number of nutrient deficiencies, including:
- Fatty acid deficiency. One problem with the keto diet is that it’s very high in fat. This means you’ll be eating more saturated fats and fewer essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain function and heart health. A lack of these fatty acids can lead to an increased risk of migraines, fatigue, joint pain and depression.
- Vitamin deficiency. Many people who follow a ketogenic diet don’t get enough vitamins like A or D because they aren’t eating enough vegetables or fruits on this plan (and even if they were eating them, those foods would be devoid of most nutrients). As a result, symptoms such as poor vision may occur due to vitamin A deficiency; reduced bone strength could develop due to inadequate calcium intake; hair loss might occur because your body isn’t getting enough iron from food sources anymore either; you might even develop scurvy because vitamin C isn’t getting absorbed properly into your bloodstream anymore.
- Mineral deficiency: Another common problem with low carb diets like Keto is that many minerals do not get absorbed by our bodies when we cut out carbohydrates from our diets which can lead us down an unhealthy path towards serious illness such as diabetes mellitus type 2 .
Conclusion
If you read only about the benefits of ketogenic diet. You have read wrong. There is long term health risk of keto diet. Sometimes it is dangerous and risky. It can lead to malnutrition, heart problems and even death. If you’re considering starting the ketogenic diet, think carefully about the possible risks and talk with your doctor first.
