The ketogenic diet has exploded in popularity over the past few years. If you’ve got social media accounts, you probably know that a lot of people are raving about it. But what exactly is the ketogenic diet? It’s a very low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet that forces your body to produce ketones, which are produced when there is not enough sugar for energy. This fluently means that your body starts burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. While this may sound like a dream come true for anyone who wants to lose weight or improve their overall health, the truth is that the ketogenic diet is not as healthy as it seems. In fact, there are many reasons why you shouldn’t go on this diet - at least not if your goal is to be healthy. Here are some solid arguments why you should stay away from the keto diet and find a healthier way to live life! You Might be Deficient in Important Nutrients One of the first things to change when you go on the ketogenic diet is your intake of certain vitamins and minerals. Many people who go on this diet suffer from a lack of iron, zinc, and calcium. You might be surprised to learn that calcium deficiency is one of the biggest reasons why you shouldn’t go on the ketogenic diet. Calcium is necessary for just about everything in our body - including maintaining our bones. When you go on the ketogenic diet, your body will take calcium from your bones as a source of quick energy. If you don’t make sure you’re getting enough calcium in your diet, you could experience a reduction in bone density - and even osteoporosis! Diets that are high in protein, such as the ketogenic diet, can also be difficult to maintain in the long term. This is because the high levels of protein in the ketogenic diet can easily lead to a deficiency in B vitamins. B vitamins are important for many different processes in our body, including our metabolism. A deficiency in B vitamins can lead to feelings of fatigue, nervousness, or even depression. Another important nutrient that may be difficult for you to get in the ketogenic diet is vitamin D! This is because vitamin D is stored in our fat - and when you go on the ketogenic diet, you’re depriving yourself of fat. If you don’t get enough vitamin D in your diet, you could experience a wide range of health complications including: - Anxiety and depression - Muscle aches and pains - Decreased bone health - Higher risk of heart disease - Impaired immune system Keto is Extremely Difficult to Maintain This one should be obvious, but it’s something that many people don’t consider when they decide to go on the ketogenic diet. Not only do you have to survive the first few weeks of intense hunger, cravings, and fatigue while your body is adapting to ketosis, you also have to maintain this diet for the rest of your life. This can be incredibly difficult for some people, and many people end up giving up after just a few weeks. One of the biggest reasons why it’s so hard to maintain this diet is that it’s extremely difficult to eat out on the ketogenic diet. Many restaurants don’t know what ketosis is, and if you try explaining it, they may assume you’re allergic to something. This is why it’s important to do research before going to a restaurant on the ketogenic diet! It’s also important to note that you may end up spending a lot more money on food when you go on the ketogenic diet. This is because most high-fat, low-carbohydrate foods are also very high in price. While the ketogenic diet may seem cheap at first, it can quickly become a very expensive diet to maintain! It’s Incredibly Difficult to Stay on the Diet Another big reason why you should not go on the ketogenic diet is because it’s incredibly difficult to stay on the diet. This is especially true if you’re trying to go keto while living a busy life. This diet is extremely restrictive, and it’s difficult to find tasty and healthy options that fit within the ketogenic guidelines. You not only have to cut out carbs, but you also have to cut out all sugar and dairy! And you can’t replace these things with other foods like other diets allow you to do - such as healthy grains or dairy replacements. Many people find it extremely difficult to keep up with this diet in the long term because of how restricting it can be. This often leads to people giving up on the diet after just a few weeks because they’re feeling too restricted. The Keto Diet Can Be Harmful for Your Brain There is a lot of controversy surrounding the ketogenic diet, and many experts are starting to question if this diet is really healthy at all. One of the biggest issues with the ketogenic diet is that it can lead to a very serious deficiency in certain nutrients - especially when you’re first starting out on the diet! This can lead to a loss of cognition and even psychosis in some people. While these problems are usually reversible when you switch to a different diet, they’re still important to note. Another issue with the ketogenic diet is the risk of developing kidney stones. This is because ketosis forces your kidneys to work very hard to process all the extra uric acid that your body is producing! It’s Incredibly Bad for Our Environment The ketogenic diet has become incredibly popular in recent years, and as such, there are many products that are marketed as keto-friendly. Unfortunately, there are very few products that are actually ketogenic-friendly. This means that there is an increased demand for unhealthy foods, especially livestock. This can lead to a harmful cycle where the production of unhealthy foods leads to an increase in carbon emissions. This, in turn, leads to global warming - which has been recognized as one of the biggest environmental threats to our planet! The Keto Diet Is Extremely Limited Another big reason why you should not go on the ketogenic diet is because it is incredibly limited in what food choices you have. You can’t eat out or go to most restaurants, and you can’t eat any grains or dairy products! This can make finding healthy meals extremely difficult, especially when you’re on a busy schedule. If you want to go out to eat with your friends, you’re probably going to have to turn down any invitations to restaurants that don’t offer low-carb options. This can make socializing very difficult for many people, and it can lead to feelings of loneliness! You May Put on Weight Instead of Losing it While it’s true that you will likely lose weight by going on the ketogenic diet, you may suffer negative health effects in the process. This is because the ketogenic diet is extremely low in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This can lead to constipation and a lack of proper nutrition in your body. If you don’t get enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, you may actually gain weight in the long run. This is because your body will suffer from lack of nutrition and be forced to store more fat as a source of energy. Other Reasons to Avoid the Ketogenic Diet In addition to all these reasons, there are many other reasons why you should not go on the ketogenic diet. For example, the ketogenic diet can actually cause you to gain weight if you don’t follow it correctly. This is because the ketogenic diet is very high in fat, and fat is very caloric. This means that if you’re not careful, you could end up consuming too many calories and gaining weight instead of losing it! Another reason to avoid the ketogenic diet is that it can be very bad for your digestive health. Many people find that their digestion suffers while they’re on the ketogenic diet due to its low fiber content. This can lead to digestive illnesses and a lack of proper nutrition in your body. Starvation Mode One of the most important things to remember about the ketogenic diet is that it’s a form of starvation. While you may think that it’s good to go without food for a long period of time, it actually causes many health complications. When your body doesn’t have enough food, it will start to slow down and the functioning of organs will take a hit. Consider having a healthy diet that includes all food groups and if you have goals, consult a professional nutritionist or a dietician.
