Is keto safe? Just because this diet is popular, that doesn’t mean that it’s appropriate for your health or even that it’s effective in the first place. That said, it doesn’t mean that it’s not. There is a lot of information out there, but it can be very difficult to understand. Moreover, with a mix of accurate and false information – and the difference can be hard to detect – the challenge is even greater! We’ve put the facts together so you can understand the basics of the ketogenic diet and whether you should be working on maintaining ketosis.
Is Keto Safe? What Do the Experts Say?
The question asking is keto safe is common enough that some of the top medical experts in the country have addressed it on their sites. Harvard Medical, for instance, published a piece about what the diet entails and whether it should be considered safe and effective to follow.
It is, after all, the most popular low-carb diet at the moment. It has become far more popular than the “original” low-carb strategy created by Dr. Atkins a few decades ago.
Criticisms Regarding the Diet’s Effectiveness
When followed as it should be, the ketogenic diet is, at best, controversial. Yes, it can lead to weight loss. It is indeed frequently considered to be rapid. However, as it involves a dramatic dietary change, leaning primarily on fats, with a notably smaller percentage of proteins and very low carbohydrate intake.
That said, the Harvard report also points out that the standard American diet isn’t exactly well balanced when it comes to macronutrients. Carbs usually make up well over half of the daily caloric intake, and the average individual eats too much protein, and the fats they consume are low quality, often from processed foods. Too few fruits and vegetables are consumed every day.
Side effects at the start of this diet include nausea, vomiting, bad breath, sleep struggles, and constipation. It is often known as the “keto flu”. People with kidney problems asking is keto safe should know that this eating strategy is not appropriate for them as it may worsen their condition.
Overcoming the Symptoms with a Keto Diet Pill
Many people find that the right keto diet pill can help support the process of achieving ketosis and maintaining it. This can help to move through the keto flu faster or may help to skip it altogether. Better maintenance means that the body will be at a lower risk of drifting in and out of ketosis, avoiding recurrence of the symptoms.
Is Keto Safe for the Average Healthy Person?
The issue with the question asking is keto safe in general is that there is insufficient research available to know the answer. Strong evidence shows that it can help to reduce seizures in children. Occasionally, this effect can be as powerful in kids as anti-seizure medications.
However, the research has not focused on the safety for the average adult keeping it up for weight loss as opposed to epilepsy control.
Some argue that the rapid weight loss benefits can make it worthwhile even if there are some risks in the question of is keto safe. Others point to better blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes patients. Equally, those who are not in favor of this diet underscore that it is unlikely to be kept up over the long-term, which means that its benefits are likely to be only temporary. Yo-yoing weight is often considered to be less healthy than remaining overweight.