By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    healthy hobbies
    The Importance of Hobbies for Our Health
    September 15, 2024
    Whiplash
    Understanding Whiplash: A Guide For Healthcare Practitioners
    January 22, 2025
    research chemicals and health care
    Chemical Research Drive Medical Breakthroughs
    June 14, 2023
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Hospitals and Providers Using NHIN (Nationwide Health Information Network)
    March 11, 2012
    Image
    Physicians With High Productivity And Satisfaction Scores Employ Strong Patient-Centered Communication Skills
    May 7, 2013
    My Solution to the Healthcare Crisis
    March 31, 2012
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Health > Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet
Health

Read This Before You Follow the Keto Diet

Aaron Casselman
Aaron Casselman
Share
8 Min Read
pros and cons of the keto diet
Shutterstock Photo License - SewCream
SHARE

The keto diet has become very popular recently, especially among people that have researched diets in detail. One survey found 70% of people on it started the keto diet after doing their own research.

In simple terms, the keto diet is an eating plan that is made up of a lot of fat, moderate proteins, and few carbohydrates. There are some interesting things that are going to happen to your body when you consume a lot of fat and a small number of carbs. There are a lot of benefits of it.

Ketosis

When you reduce your carb intake, your body is going to run out of carbs which is the preferred fuel, and glycogen stores also. Your body is then going to switch to burning fat to get energy. This metabolic state is known as ketosis.

More Read

common misconseptions about brain injuries
4 Common Myths and Misunderstandings About Brain Injuries
Healthier Alternatives to Starting Your Day with Coffee
Cybersecurity Best Practices for Healthcare Organizations
6 Ways Rhinoplasty Can Improve Your Health And Wellbeing
Which Healthcare Software Platforms Will Reign Supreme in 2024?

When the body is in ketosis, the liver is going to convert fatty acids to ketones or ketone bodies, which are going to be used by the brain, heart, and muscles as fuel.

If you want to remain in ketosis, you have to keep your total carb intake between 20-50 grams a day and consume a lot of healthy fat.

When a person uses this diet plan, they most likely want to burn unwanted fat by forcing the body to use fat for energy instead of carbs. Ketosis is going to help with weight loss and many other health benefits.

There are a lot of options when it comes to the keto diet, but the most popular one is the standard keto diet. The macronutrient breakdown on the diet is usually 70% fat, 20% protein, and 10% carbs. Keto bars are designed as a keto friendly snack to keep you on track with your diet.

Pros and Cons of the Keto Diet

Keto Pros

The keto diet has a wide range of health benefits as mentioned earlier, below are some of the most significant benefits of the keto diet:

Weight Loss

Keto is king when it comes to short-term weight loss.

There are 23 studies compared that tracked the keto diet for varying lengths (mostly six months or less) and they found that people following the keto diet lost two to three times more weight than low-fat dieters. The low-carb diets were more effective in reducing abdominal fat.

Cardiovascular benefits

The studies above also found other health parameters associated with obesity improved when following the diet. Those following the diet saw improved blood sugar, triglyceride and cholesterol level markers, and blood pressure.

Brain Health

Some studies have shown that ketones generated as a result of ketosis had neuroprotective benefits, which help in strengthening and protecting the brain and its nerve cells.

Eating low carb and high-fat diet improved feelings of anxiousness, low mood, and issues with brain focus.

Acne

When you eat a diet that has a lot of refined carbohydrates, it can alter the balance of gut bacteria that can cause blood sugar levels to rise and fall significantly, which is going to have a negative effect on your skin. There was a study that found decreasing carb consumption can help lessen acne problems.

Keto Cons

There are a couple of drawbacks and health risks you need to know about keto and you should be careful with them. Some of these symptoms include;

Flu-Like Complications

When you have been on the keto diet for a few days, you might start experiencing problems. Some of them include dizziness, headaches, nausea, fatigue, and constipation – this is the result of electrolyte imbalance and dehydration because your body is getting into ketosis. These issues are going to go after a few weeks. You can reduce these issues by staying hydrated and making sure you are getting enough amounts of potassium, sodium, and electrolytes.

Blood Sugar Issues

The keto diet has been shown to be good in supporting healthy blood sugar levels, but complications to do with blood sugar and ketones might come up.

Heart Health Concerns

Keto involves consuming a lot of fat. When someone consumes too much-saturated fat, it leads to increased cholesterol levels, especially LDL, which has been linked to health issues. You can alleviate these risks by choosing healthier fats like polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats that are found in seeds, nuts, avocados, and olives.

Liver and Kidney Problems

The kidneys and liver help in processing protein and fat. There are experts who think that the diet is going to overwork these organs. Consuming a lot of fatty animal foods can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Low in Nutrients and Fiber

Keto is going to limit the options you have. You will not consume foods that are high in fiber like starchy vegetables, nutrient-dense fruits, legumes, and whole grains.

Studies that have been done on people following the keto found deficiencies in vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. The diet can be constipating and affect healthy gut bacteria, but you can avoid this by taking measures like eating plenty of leafy green and cruciferous vegetables.

Restrictive and challenging

The keto diet is very restrictive. Carbs usually make up 50% of the standard American diet. It is challenging to adhere to this diet.

It Exacerbates Disordered Eating

There is a risk of disordered eating for keto dieters. Dieting can interfere with the joy of eating and can even affect simple daily activities. A diet that is restrictive and extreme like the keto diet tends to be challenging for anyone who tries, especially those dealing with eating problems.

Bottom Line

The keto diet is going to deliver fast and short-term weight loss and other benefits like healthy blood sugar levels.

The challenges that come with ketosis and potential health risk underscore the importance of making sure you choose healthy fats (coconut oil, olive oil, seeds, and nuts), quality meats, and eating high-fiber vegetables that are low carb. Choosing the right keto foods is going to help you manage the issues.

There are those who have thrived following this diet. Keto appears to be too restrictive in the long term for most. Health experts are having concerns about the effects of the diet because it removed important staple foods (legumes, grains, fruits, and starchy vegetables).

Before you begin any diet, you need to start by consulting a healthcare professional. This is the same case when you want to try the keto diet.

TAGGED:alternative healthketo dietweight loss
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share
By Aaron Casselman
Aaron Casselman is a medical writer based in central Minnesota, specializing in bioinformatics. With my Master's Degree in bioinformatics, he brings unique insights into topics related to medicine and health.

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025
engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

you can lose weight without following a strict diet
Fitness

10 Weight Loss Hacks that Don’t Involve Serious Dieting

May 16, 2022
Staying healthy and active
Health

Tips on Staying Active and why it’s Important for Your Body

December 11, 2022
Specialties

Weight Loss and Exercise Fail to Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes? A Skeptic Scoffs

October 22, 2012
Health

How to Measure Adult Diapers- The Ultimate Guide to Picking the Right Size

March 8, 2022
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?