5 critical reasons why you need to avoid this popular diet

A “ketogenic” or keto diet is an eating regime that is designed to put your body into a metabolic state called ketosis. In ketosis, the body will burn fat — instead of carbs — for fuel.

Proponents say the diet can lead to weight loss. But it can also help treat certain rare conditions, like Dravets Syndrome, which is characterized by severe epilepsy.

But a growing mountain of research suggests the diet has serious drawbacks when it comes to health.

Think of your gut as a city that thrives on diversity created by a healthy diet. Mounting evidence suggests gut health influences other aspects of health, as well as mental wellbeing and our immune system.

Keto severely limits intake of many of the foods shown to best promote gut health, like legumes and root vegetables. And as a result, your gut — and all the systems it affects — could suffer, too.

A high-fiber diet helps keep you regular, and unfortunately, keto doesn’t help in that department. Keto limits intake of high-fiber foods like apples.

High fat, high protein, and low carb, red meat can feature prominently in keto diets.

But various studies, including a 2016 study, have found that eating red meat is linked to heart disease, kidney problems, and more.

Folic acid, which is in carbohydrates, is critical for brain development. Low carb diets can mean less folic acid in your diet. In turn, following a keto diet in pregnancy can have consequences for your child.

A 2018 study for example found a link between getting enough folic acid during pregnancy and a lower incidence of neural tube defects. Too little folic acid and the risk goes up.

Symptoms include:

- Nausea

- Dizziness

- Heartbeat alterations

- Decreased energy

- Feeling faint

- Gastrointestinal discomfort