Ketosis Side Effects

Many people who are willing to lose weight through dieting, are opting for ketogenic diet. It is one of the most popular low carb diet followed these days. This is one such diet plan where the intake of carbohydrate is very low but its fat and protein content are quite high. Besides weight loss, it has a few other health benefits too. It is used to treat some health disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy seizures in children.

How does Ketosis Help in Weight Loss?

Normally, our body gets energy from various dietary sources of carbohydrates. When the carbohydrate content is reduced in a diet, it is forced to obtain energy by burning off fats. As it starts obtaining its energy from fats and not carbohydrates, there is a minor shift in the mechanism of metabolism in the body. The effects of this change can be seen in various systems of the body. When the body breaks down fats to obtain energy, a substance named ketone is being produced in the process. In the initial few days, the excess ketones are excreted through urine and the level of ketones in the body remains balanced. Later on, continuous rise in accumulated ketones in the body lead to an abnormal condition which is referred to as ketosis. In this condition, the person on ketogenic diet loses interest in food due to lack of appetite and can manage without eating anything for hours. This effect motivates him or her to stick to the diet plan for a long time and is proved to be beneficial for weight loss.

Side Effects of Ketosis

There are several side effects which are observed in people who are following a ketogenic diet. Most of them show up 3-7 days after starting the diet. The most obvious ketosis side effect that people talk about is loss of hunger. Some people rejoice on this effect as it helps them to lose weight but many of them cannot tolerate it. This lowers their energy levels so much that they feel unwell. They suffer from minor problems like headache, mental dullness, irritability, sudden dizziness and so on. They may also experience sluggish mobility, as more energy is required in breaking down the fats for production of usable energy for the body. Read more on ketosis symptoms.

The change in metabolism can badly affect the digestive system and cause nausea and diarrhea. Dehydration and constipation are two such symptoms that are often observed in the beginning of the diet program. These problems are resolved by drinking plenty of water and eating fiber rich foods. Bad breath is another not so serious side effect of ketosis which is triggered by the changes that takes place in the bacteria and enzymes of the digestive system due to shift in metabolic process. One can get rid of it by brushing the teeth more frequently.

Some people face problems if they consume artificial sweeteners, coffee or some of the vegetables. Various research studies suggest that ketosis can damage the blood vessels in the long run by increasing the level a certain chemical substance known as methylglyoxal. If the diet program continues for a long time, it can lead to more health complications. They include: kidney stones, heart palpitation, gout, osteoporosis, calcium deficiency, etc. However, many researchers argue that these problems are not related to ketosis. Rather, they result from the lack of nutrition and some kind of metabolic complexity.

The ketosis side effects are more severe under the influence of certain medical problems. In diabetic patients, ketosis can lead to a condition known as ketoacidosis, when the blood becomes highly acidic in nature. Here, minor symptoms, like vomiting and confusion are observed initially but it has serious consequences like coma or even death. Hence, those who have diabetes should stay away from this diet program. Ketogenic diet is strictly not recommended for pregnant women, alcoholics and patients suffering from any kidney or liver diseases.

The effects of ketosis is different for every individual. Some people have the natural ability to deal with them but others may not be able to cope up with the changed associated with it. Therefore, at any point of time, if dieters feel that they are unable to tolerate these effects, they should abandon the diet program immediately.