Keto diet: Know the side effects of the popular weight loss plan – from nutrient deficiency to kidney problems

Bollywood’s actor Misti Mukherjee’s untimely death due to kidney failure reportedly caused by the ‘keto diet’, a popular weight loss plan, has raised serious concerns over the health risks of dieting. Turns out, a lot of people are praising the diet. In fact, going keto is a favored choice these days among those trying to lose weight.

However, some experts have warned against the popular weight loss diet plan, citing health risks and unpleasant side effects. Perhaps, Mukherjee’s untimely death due to kidney failure reportedly caused by the diet has raised serious concerns on the health risks of dieting. For the uninitiated, the keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that promises quick weight loss.

It is claimed that the diet can offer some health benefits such as reducing epileptic seizures in children, improving acne symptoms, and preventing or even treating certain forms of cancer. However, the keto diet also carries numerous risks. Some potential side effects and health risks of the diet are nutritional concerns, kidney and heart problems, liver problems, low blood sugar, keto flu, and early death.

The fact is that the keto diet is extremely low in certain fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, etc., all of which are essential for a healthy, balanced diet.

So, this puts you at a higher risk for micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamins B and C, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, etc. Moreover, experts fear that high intakes of unhealthful fats can result in a long-term negative effect. Consuming a lot of high-fat animal foods, including meat, eggs, and cheese, which are staples of the keto diet, can stress your kidneys, increasing the risk of kidney stones.

This can also cause your blood and urine to become more acidic, thereby worsening the progression of chronic kidney disease. The kidneys help metabolize protein and the keto diet may overload them. Additionally, a high-fat diet may raise bad cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Experts also warned that the diet may also make any existing liver problems worse with a lot of fat to metabolize. While a low-carb diet may help with blood sugar control in people suffering from diabetes, it may also lead to dangerously low blood sugar events, especially in individuals with type 1 diabetes. That is because people with type 1 diabetes typically have low blood sugar levels if they use too much insulin and do not eat enough carbs.

Dieters may experience keto flu symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headaches, constipation, etc. initially as their body switches to using ketones and fat for energy.

Some evidence suggests that a high-fat, low-carb diet that emphasizes animal foods may lead to poor health outcomes, increasing the risk of chronic health conditions, and early death. The bottom line is, the keto diet may help people lose weight and enjoy some benefits in the short term, however, it can have adverse effects over time. Make sure that you talk to your doctor or a registered dietician before trying the keto diet or any other weight loss plan.