To think the keto diet

[Tattooedmama]

Is maybe not healthy...

Ive researched into this diet (or lifestyle as others put it) alot as i have around 17lbs to lose, i did toy with the idea of trying it and gave it a go a couple months ago but i cant live completely without bread and potatoes i also found it expensive buying/cooking different meals to the rest of my family (fussy eaters)
But after seeing a post on a weight loss group of a lady who is going through tests on her heart, many people adamant that the keto diet is nothing to do with it and to carry on... surely that much high fat can eventually have a detrimental affect on your health?
Im no dietician or expert, so does anyone with more knowledge have any insight into how the benefits outweigh the negatives.
I also understand it can reverse diabetes, which is fantastic.
It seems like one of the most popular weight loss plans, but i would worry about the affects of so much bacon and high fat meat.

It has been known to reduce seizures in some people suffering epilepsy. Other than that, I dont think its particularly great for you.

I couldn't do it purely because of the smell of 'death' ketosis produces on the breath, its honestly vile.

I have a brain tumour and this diet is my ‘treatment’ to help shrink it. That being said, I have monthly blood tests to check I’m all good on the inside. A pleasant side effect is the insane weight loss.

I would also say you can follow a completely plant based version of the diet - it’s not just bacon and eggs!!!

Yes, I know of someone using high protein/ low carb diet to help with seizures, and maybe it would help to get off a few stubborn pounds but not for a lifetime for most of us, that cannot be right for the human body.

If you do it, please don’t be one of those absolute cunts that goes to the chemist and buys out all of the ketosis strip tests. Type 1 diabetics need them to stay alive.

It’s a really problem in my area and makes me so fucking angry.

Put my pre diabetes totally into remission. Its life changing.

I’m sorry to hear that @Frariedeamin, wishing you a speedy recovery

I think generally cutting a major food group, unless for medical reasons such as above, isn’t a good idea and isn’t sustainable. I think it increases the likelihood of relapse to over eating.

@TotalRecall that’s so bad!

I had heart issues and my cardiologist recommended keto. I’ve lost 20kg so far. Cholesterol is better, BP better and my ECG was perfect. It’s a life changer. I was skeptical but now I’ve seen the light!

Its perfectly healthy recommended by my consultant also. If you are on reddit the keto group there shows real people having tests done before and after and many have reversed their diabetes. I lost 5 stone in 4 months best I have ever felt.

@Ilovelala congratulations on feeling better, but is it healthy to loose weight so rapidly? 5st in 4 months is a lot!

I am pre-diabetic and it is helping hugely. I can imagine if you have existing kidney issues or high cholesterol it may not be ideal but I'd hope if you did you would get advice from a GP before changing your diet anyway.

Apparently it’s particularly good if you have insulin resistance because your body uses fat for energy instead of carbs. Good for people with - or at risk of - type 2 diabetes. So if most of your weight is on your tummy and you don’t get much exercise that could possibly be you. But if your additional weight is on your hips and you walk everywhere it’s possibly less effective from that perspective.

I’ve done it on and off and now have a BMI in the healthy range. I can’t manage to keep it going for more than three months at a time. The first week is particularly awful.

surely that much high fat can eventually have a detrimental affect on your health?

Yep. I know someone who is fanatical about keto. Their cholesterol has gone up to 9.3! The dr was about to waste a whole load of NHS resources to investigate the underlying cause (healthy level is below 5) and start them on statins to reduce their risk of CVD then they dropped the bombshell that they were doing keto and starting their day with bulletproof coffee. Two months after changing their diet and cholesterol is now near normal.

Lowering carbs & eating avocado & good fats is v healthy. Adding butter to your coffee is crazy.

Frariedeamin Hope you are doing well

I have a friend who’s teenage daughter is on it to reduce seizures. It was made very clear to her by her doctor that she can only be on it short term, because it isn’t healthy.

Presumably once you stop doing it, the weight piles back on very quickly.

yanbu
it might be beneficial for some people but can be very extreme and not sustainable in the long run for many.

I'm interested to see long term results in scientifically conducted studies...

I did this diet for 6 months. I didnt lose weight, none, but im a healthy weight anyway so maybe that makes a difference.
I felt fantastic , had none of the migraines i usually suffer with , no lethargy, my skin was perfect for once, my periods were regular ...

I just couldnt afford to keep to it any longer though. It cost me a fortune.
I havent gained any weight since i started eating bread etc again, but im back to feeling sluggish and my migraines have returned especially around the time of my periods.

Was planning to start again in the new year as have been ttc 3rd baby with no luck, in my entirely uninformed opinion i feel there is a link between keto and my reproductive health.

Was fairly low carb when i concieved my 2nd on 2nd month after a seperate health kick and my first was ivf for reference.

Well, I have been doing it on and off this past year. I lost 3 stone and got my blood glucose down from 88 to 37. My cholesterol has gone up from 4. something to 5.2. So I would say the benefits are worth it. I am just doing not low carb now but lowish carb. Like I will have potatoes but just one rather than loads. I avoid crisps, bread etc but I do have them sometimes. Next year I will do the lowcarb/bootcamp/keto stuff to shift another three stone.

I have managed to keep my weight stable also for a few months at this weight. I haven't regained any.

I don’t believe it’s healthy. I think it might be ok short-term to jumpstart weight loss, but long term I think it’s a very bad idea.

The healthiest diet seems to be largely plant-based. There are lots of studies online and many are funded by people with vested interests, so it’s hard to sort out facts. But personally, I believe eating plenty of veg and choosing whole foods over processed foods is the way to go.

I’d never eat keto (unless medically advised, of course) and I think you’re right to be very wary.

I was put on it by my neurologist for my (specific type of) migraines. It’s been amazing. I wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work, though. It’s really boring, and people keep making comments about my “eating disorder”. Yes, I have lost weight, but I am a healthy weight and it’s been stable for the last two and a half years.

it made my sweat smell vile

LDL cholesterol was shown to drop and HDL cholesterol increase for people on a medically supervised ketogenic diet. What I find shocking is the % of fat you eat on the diet, but I am assuming people are not just melting a pack of butter and sticking a straw in it.

Butter in a coffee that has to be the grimmest thing ever!

I cut out bread in order to improve gut health. I’d definitely say it’s helped. The rise in cholesterol would worry me but I guess it depends on the reasons you are doing it. If you are very overweight then you are already at risk of heart problems so the diet would most likely help. If you’re looking to loose a couple of stone I’d try something less extreme.