“Is the Keto diet healthy?”
I'm a 35 year old female and my doctor recently told me I need to lose weight for health reasons. My friend told me about the Keto diet. Is it safe?
15 Answers
The keto diet was originally intended to treat epilepsy in children. It can be safely used for weight loss for a short period of time (3-6 months) but for most people longer than that will damage their gut microbiome. However, not everyone losses weight on keto.
There can be benefits to doing a keto diet, especially for short periods. It's often difficult to follow and many people eat unhealthy foods while doing it. It can also contribute to yo-yo-like dieting, which ends up slowing metabolism. I prefer to address the underlying issues that may contribute to metabolism like hormones and inflammation.
Jenna Romero
Naturopath
Hello,
This is a great question and one I get a lot! The Ketogenic diet is not safe long term as it has been linked to liver issues due to the nature of the diet itself. The keto diet is primarily used under guidance by a healthcare provider to target a specific medical condition and for a specific period of time...however, it has fallen out of favor in recent years. Also, many people gain back whatever weight they lost after stopping the diet, unfortunately.
Some diets that are safe long term and provide health benefits are: Mediterranean and whole foods.
This is a great question and one I get a lot! The Ketogenic diet is not safe long term as it has been linked to liver issues due to the nature of the diet itself. The keto diet is primarily used under guidance by a healthcare provider to target a specific medical condition and for a specific period of time...however, it has fallen out of favor in recent years. Also, many people gain back whatever weight they lost after stopping the diet, unfortunately.
Some diets that are safe long term and provide health benefits are: Mediterranean and whole foods.
Yes, a keto diet is safe. That being said, there are some health complications that can happen such as gout, high cholesterol and kidney stones. It is best to be under the supervision of a doctor who can order screening labs, and personalize the program for your needs. - Dr. Bonnie Nedrow
Hi!
The keto diet works great for some but is a disaster for others. For example my husband lost weight pretty quickly on it and I gained weight! We literally ate the same food and followed the recipe / diet book.
Before going to keto I usually have people try something like Whole 30 or the anti-inflammatory diet by Dr Jessica Black first. I also would recommend checking for food sensitivities and allergies since for many, they're reacting to foods leading to increased inflammation which is perceived as weight.
Yes, you can always try keto any time. There are several versions out there you can choose from. Just don't get discouraged if it doesn't work for you. That simply means your body needs something else! There is a solution for everyone.
The keto diet works great for some but is a disaster for others. For example my husband lost weight pretty quickly on it and I gained weight! We literally ate the same food and followed the recipe / diet book.
Before going to keto I usually have people try something like Whole 30 or the anti-inflammatory diet by Dr Jessica Black first. I also would recommend checking for food sensitivities and allergies since for many, they're reacting to foods leading to increased inflammation which is perceived as weight.
Yes, you can always try keto any time. There are several versions out there you can choose from. Just don't get discouraged if it doesn't work for you. That simply means your body needs something else! There is a solution for everyone.
Keto diet is tricky for women who are cycling! I've seen it recommended for fertility, but I'm not sure it is a longterm solution for women because carbs are really important for your menstrual cycle. If it is purely for metabolic concerns like weight gain, then short term keto to initiate the process can be helpful but then I recommend transitioning to something more balanced like a lower carb diet. I've seen a lot of hormonal issues with keto diet in women particularly those who stay in ketosis the longest. Keto diet safety is based on a number of factors and I'd have to order labs and understand your medical history more to be able to speak more to its safety for you specifically. Everyone is so different in how we respond to different diets.
Diets are not one size fits all and this is not an easy answer. There is much to know. Any "diet" needs to be completely individualized for a person. And, quite frankly, I don't promote "diets", because then we are either "on" a diet or "off". What we eat, how we eat, our lifestyle, happiness, and sleep hygiene are a few of the contributing factors for lifestyle and weight management. I'd love to share variations on the good, better, best nutrition for you.
It can be a very effective diet but I would work with a doctor familiar with it so they can guide you through it safely.
It is safe for a short amount of time. But if you do not learn to eat the right foods at the right time and in the right combinations, then when you go off the keto diet you will gain the weight back.
Yes, it is safe.
This Keto diet is a short-term diet. It is not meant for long-term use. I find it to be ironic that this diet being low carb and high fat is said to be effective. I do know that this type of dieting, to do the opposite of what it is meant to do, I understand that they claim that it does help to treat cancer? What it actually does is to make it happen faster and stronger.
In my opinion, Keto is NOT safe. Recently, many people who have been on the Keto diet have experienced negative side effects and health issues.
No, if you are diabetic. Burning fat instead of glucose does what to your physiology? It creates Ketosis (using fat for energy instead of glucose). Causing what? Ketosis and hyperglycemia, then the hospital!
A low carbohydrate ketogenic diet can help to control hunger\improve fat metabolism reducing one's body weight. Some ketogenic diets use foods that mimic the more carbohydrate-rich foods helping one to stick to the diet... the diet can be useful in treating obesity\excessive weight issues, although should be monitored by your physician.
I don't recommend you to engage in any type of diet to lose weight. The best approach that I'd recommend is to change your lifestyle and engage in a healthy diet. A plant-based diet is the one I would consider first.
Once your diet becomes clean and healthy, you will shed some weights, which will improve your health in a long run.
Once your diet becomes clean and healthy, you will shed some weights, which will improve your health in a long run.
