When you start drastically cutting your carb intake, your insulin levels fall.
This shift triggers your body to seek alternative energy sources.
Your body taps into its fat reserves, promoting fat loss while providing a steady energy supply.
OKrasyuk / Getty Images
Is the Keto Diet Healthy?
The emphasis on fats and protein may help promote satiety and reduce hunger.
However, a keto diet also poses numerous challenges and potential risks.
The keto diet is unlikely to be sustainable long term.
If you’re adopting it for weight loss, you will likely lose weight initially.
Furthermore, there’s a lot of room for variability in how a keto diet is designed.
Signs Your Body Is in Ketosis
Several signs and symptoms may indicate a metabolic shift into ketosis.
Common indicators include:
While these symptoms can be obnoxious or uncomfortable, they’re generally temporary.
It’s important to stay hydrated, maintain electrolyte balance, and be patient as your body adjusts.
Consuming fewer carbs lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, improving insulin sensitivity and overall blood sugar control.
The shift into ketosis, during which ketones from stored fat are used for energy, promotes weight loss.
The keto diet also reduces levels of the hunger hormoneghrelin, which decreases appetite.
Who Should Avoid Being in a State of Ketosis?
A keto diet is pretty restrictive and is not a good fit for everyone.
Before adopting a keto diet, it’s essential to understand the potential risks and downsides.
It occurs during fasting, prolonged exercise, or a keto diet.
Ketosis is generally a controlled and non-dangerous process characterized by moderate levels ofketones in the blood and urine.
This might also involve corrections usinginsulin therapyand adhering to a balanced diet that promotes stable blood sugar management.
Communicate with your healthcare provider, attend regular wellness exams, and stick to your management plan.
Many people pursue ketosis by following a keto diet.
Everyone has unique needs and goals and a keto diet isn’t right for everyone.
Scott JM, Deuster PA.Ketones and human performance.J Spec Oper Med.
(2023 Jun 16).
In: StatPearls [Internet].
2020;7:20. doi:10.3389/fnut.2020.00020
McGaugh E, Barthel B.A review of ketogenic diet and lifestyle.
2022;119(1):84-88.
Anderson JC.Measuring breath acetone for monitoring fat loss: review.Obesity (Silver Spring).
Curr Diab Rep. 2021;21(9):32.
2018;64(12):906.
2021;13(12):e20390.13.
2020;12(8):e9639.
doi:10.7759/cureus.9639
Schneider S, Biggerstaff DL, Barber TM.Helpful or harmful?
The impact of the ketogenic diet on eating disorder outcomes in key in 1 diabetes mellitus.Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab.
2020;8(3):165-173. doi:10.4103/sjmms.sjmms_478_19
Westerberg DP.Diabetic ketoacidosis: evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician.
2013;87(5):337-346.
Dhatariya KK, Glaser NS, Codner E, Umpierrez GE.Diabetic ketoacidosis.Nat Rev Dis Primers.
2020;6(1):40. doi:10.1038/s41572-020-0165-1