Ketogenic or Keto Small Diet

Every so often, countless diets or weight loss methods reach the ears of thousands of people. However, each of these theories or procedures fades away quickly — some even come back as if they were a retro trend. One example is the very cleverly marketed Ketogenic Diet or Keto Diet, which today is one of the most talked-about taboos on social media or even in nutrition clinics (in which there is no responsible physician).

In 2014, there was an attempt to popularize these types of diets, but researchers from prestigious universities like Harvard warned about the dangers of such processes, as the medical cost outweighed the benefits.

In the 1920s, these diets were used to treat epileptic seizures in children. However, they began to be used as a dietary-therapeutic method in the 1970s. Despite increasing research and use of these very low-carb diets for weight control and metabolic syndrome management, no clear conclusion was reached regarding their benefits.

The metabolic change caused by ketogenic diets happens when the intake of carbohydrates is insufficient, and our body starts to release ketones. And yes, many will say it helps eliminate fat, but this actually leads to malnutrition, as the limitations in vitamin, mineral, and fiber intake are excessive.

The ketogenic diet does not contribute to a balanced diet but instead offers a temporary alternative for weight loss. Therefore, if the patient does not make long-term changes to their lifestyle and eating behavior, they quickly regain the weight, since it is not a diet that can be maintained for life or that promotes healthy habits.

Among the most common risks, as already mentioned, I list some of them:

1. Nutrient deficiencies (selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, as well as vitamins B and C).

2. Liver issues (and worse if there is already a pre-existing problem).

3. Kidney problems due to the high protein intake that must be metabolized.

4. Confusion, as the brain requires healthy sugars to function.

5. Chronic constipation due to reduced fiber intake.

6. Halitosis (bad breath) caused by the strong odor of ketones.

7. It could cause ketoacidosis or even a ketoacidotic coma due to excess ketones.

Prolonged exposure to these types of diets can lead to death, especially considering that patients undergoing such processes are rarely examined by a physician, and even less is known about their current biochemical status.

In addition to these risks, it is very likely that patients treated with these types of diets are being managed by NON-PHYSICIANS — I would even go so far as to say by “NUTRITIONISTS” who lack medical backing, are not trained to create a clinical file based on diagnostic evidence, and are far from capable of ordering lab tests to confirm that their patient is healthy enough to be exposed to such a mediocre and irregular system.