You have most likely heard by now that there is a new diet on the "map" that has gotten everyone talking. The diet I am referring to is known as the Keto diet. When people are on the diet they eat foods with high-fat content and high protein, but they avoid foods that contain sugar as well as foods that are high in carbs. So, for instance, people who are on the diet can eat bacon but they can't eat a regular blueberry muffin, it has to be sugar-free.
After doing some research on the diet, it became clear to me that this diet is not meant to be temporary, instead, it's for life. Essentially, if you go keto, you are supposed to be keto forever. Now, I understand that keto is supposed to be so much more than just a diet, but rather that it is a change in lifestyle, but going on the Keto diet can have serious side effects. Therefore, even though it makes you lose weight quickly because you are putting your body into ketosis, lots of people suffer from the "keto flu" for the first week or so. Those that develop the "keto flu" often experience such things as flu-like symptoms, fever, and severe headaches as their bodies are trying to adjust to the increased level of ketones in the body. So, the possibility of developing the "keto flu" raises the question of whether or not the diet and resulting rapid weight loss is really worth it.
Now, don't get me wrong, I fully understand that the Keto diet can be beneficial in treating individuals with certain medical conditions, such as epilepsy, but, in my opinion, being on the diet for the sole purpose of losing weight is not the greatest idea. Even though we have established that if you have a goal of losing weight at a rapid pace it certainly accomplishes that goal, the rapid weight loss is as a result of so much more than just following a diet.
Being on the keto diet forces you to deprive your body of many of the natural sugars and carbohydrates that it needs to survive and function effectively. Not to mention, the limited variety of foods that you are allowed to consume makes it difficult to eat at a restaurant with your family or friends. And, depriving your body of certain of the things that it needs, like the sugars and carbs that I mentioned before, can be potentially detrimental your physical health. Nevertheless, the keto diet may be good for some individuals.
The question is: considering all that I now know about the keto diet, would I try it out for myself? I might be open to trying it, but I still think that potentially putting your body in danger by not providing it sufficient nutrients, is incredibly risky. However, I do know that there are ways to substitute for the sugar, carbs, and other nutrients that your body may be "missing" while on the keto diet, so in that case, it is at least worth considering. Overall, whether you think keto is worth trying, is your personal choice. But when you are making that decision, be sure to weigh the pros and cons.
