What Makes You Feel so Sick when You Start out on the Keto Diet?

Quite a number of people these days are interested in exercising the ketogenic diet. In fact, it is one of the most looked up weight-loss terminologies in Google. Moreover, the likes of celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian have given credit to its supposed immense benefits.

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The keto diet has gained a lot of popularity after celebrities such as Kourtney Kardashian praised its effectiveness and recommended it to quite a number of her fans.

However, the high-fat, low-carb eating diet does have some of its drawbacks. For starters, experts have warned that the diet can at times be non-sustainable as well as pretty restrictive. Thereby leading to high cholesterol, nutritional deficiencies, and a serious condition called ketoacidosis.

But before long-term problems transpire, a majority of the people who have given the diet a go have also reported other undesirable side effects. These side-effects have a collective name known as the keto flu.

Definition of the keto flu

Keto flu is an unofficial way of describing the experience that people will have shortly after undertaking the ketogenic diet, and it includes having both emotional and physical symptom such as lack of energy, nausea, irritability, and cramping.

In fact, these are the events that take place when the brain and body are forced to adjust to a sudden deficiency in carbohydrates.

Proponents of the keto diet state that the aggravated symptoms are only temporary, and when specific remedies are put in place, the given symptoms alleviate, or become eliminated altogether.

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The keto flu is the first side effect of the keto diet and it can cause some pretty nasty symptoms such as nausea, and cramping.

That being said, is the keto diet worth undertaking, even for a relatively short period of time? Here’s what comes into play;

Keto flu symptoms

Though the keto flu has no scientific definition, it is often described as a flu-like symptom that commences soon after a person eliminates a large portion of carbohydrates from their diet.

This is necessary for ketosis to take place, which is a kind of starvation mode whereby the body opts to burn fat rather than to target glucose. In fact, the ketogenic diet only permits about 2% to 5% of daily calories to be derived from carbohydrates.

Side-effects of a sudden drop in carbs

A sudden decline in the number of carbs being consumed will result in a drop in energy levels, with some particular dieters claiming unusual fatigue, brain fog, and confusion. There can also be nausea, cramping, stomach pain, and constipation.

Keto dieters also tend to have foul-smelling sweat and bad breath, as well as urine. This smelliness comes from acetone, which is a byproduct of ketone, a metabolism created in your body.

Moreover, adopting a ketogenic diet has been known to diminish athletic performance; despite the fact that many athletes normally give it a go, with a belief that it will help them gain better physical prowess. In fact, in a study published by the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, it was discovered that participants in the study under the keto diet performed terribly in anaerobic exercises, as compared to those who were on a high-carb diet.

How to remedy the keto flu

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To remedy the effects of the keto flu, one ought to have a healthy diet, and to prioritize sleep in their schedule on a daily basis.

Keto blogs and websites recommend precaution with the keto diet. For example, getting plenty of sleep, keeping hydrated, and finding ways to reduce the unpleasant effects of the diet are necessary. Conclusively, it is prioritizing sleep and maintaining an overall healthy diet and exercise habits will eventually alleviate the aforementioned keto flu symptoms.