by Melissa Matthews, Isadora Baum

<p>To understand <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19533636/ketogenic-diet-live-longer-memory-obesity/" id="f3ea404a-3134-3887-ae32-a10e39b7b6cb">  how the ketogenic diet works, </a> you have to understand <a href="https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180858.php" id="8d5dfd31-940c-3c86-af3d-1b45fae8693e">  ketosis </a> , the process by which your body uses fat for fuel when its starved of its usual energy source.</p>

<p>Typically, your body is fueled by glucose <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19537711/how-to-cut-carbs-for-weight-loss/" id="36d625fd-da2a-3dca-af2f-c8e3b61fa113">  in the form of carbs </a> , which can be found in flour, grains, vegetables, legumes, dairy products, and fruits. We usually introduce a steady stream of glucose into our bodies with each meal or snack, explains <a href="http://www.nutritionnews.abbott/our-experts/pamela-nisevich-bede.html" id="4130f5ec-38f3-37ef-a093-7db6d870432f">  Pamela Nisevich Bede MS, RD, CSSD, LD </a> .</p>

<p>When a carb is available, the body will naturally turn to this to make energy instead of dietary fat or stored body fat, explains Bede.</p>

<p>But when you remove carbs from your diet, your body turns to fat as an energy source instead. In this process, <a href="https://dtc.ucsf.edu/types-of-diabetes/type2/understanding-type-2-diabetes/how-the-body-processes-sugar/ketones/" id="79e48ace-361a-3349-a766-b4cc7ba7bff3">  fat travels to the liver </a> and is used to make ketones, an acid. These are released into the bloodstream, which your body converts into energy. The idea is that burning fat instead of glucose will lead to rapid weight loss. But when youre switching gears and entering a ketogenic state, your body changes in other incredible ways as well.</p>

<h1> What are the side effects of ketosis? </h1>

<p>On a normal diet, after eating glucose-containing foods, your insulin levels will be higher. But when you're in ketosis, your insulin levels plummet, says <a href="http://www.nutritionnews.abbott/our-experts/steve-hertzler.html" id="0973c0f3-292d-3d40-ad53-cfe5687ec46c">  Steve Hertzler </a> , PhD, RD, and chief scientific officer at <a href="http://www.eas.com/" id="8490c698-dd3e-34d6-a780-af850ab3681f">  EAS Sports Nutrition </a> .</p>

<p>With the lower insulin levels, its believed that the fatty acids are more readily released from the bodys fat tissue, freeing them up to be used for fuel, he explains.</p>

<h1> 2) You're less hungry during the day. </h1>

<p>Protein is <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a20777848/best-healthy-meats/" id="9e6bc7e2-9565-35d1-af5f-51bee4f2fc47">  incredibly filling </a> , and because youre <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19536706/protein-facts/" id="58013bc0-e24c-32fa-aac9-5e050561fb0f">  increasing your protein consumption on the keto diet, </a> youre bound to feel more satiated during the day. But beyond that, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25402637" id="f3460c25-4cfa-329b-aba3-f5a0a0bd92bf">  the ketogenic diet can also play a role in suppressing appetite </a> , says Hertzler.</p>

<p>The elevated production of ketones is thought to suppress the appetite centers in the brain, he says.</p>

<h1> 3) You can start feeling sick. </h1>

<p>Keto can have a few unfortunate side effects, one of which is known as <a href="http://breaknutrition.com/keto-flu/" id="213df98a-0329-3d48-a83f-3442a2847587">  the Keto Flu </a> . Symptoms typically pop up in the <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/keto-flu-symptoms#symptoms" id="6bc1cce9-c295-3179-adf5-90cfa581dfbe">  first few days </a> as your body gets accustomed to eating fewer carbs. Common complaints include headaches, nausea, fogginess, muscle cramping, and fatigue.</p>

<p>You can expect these symptoms to last about a week, but there are ways to ease the pain. Staying hydrated and getting enough sleep will help with fatigue and muscle cramps. </p>

<h1> 4) Your breath might smell bad. </h1>

<p>Be warned - you might need to carry breath mints. Some people may or may not have <a href="https://www.verywell.com/is-your-low-carb-diet-giving-you-bad-breath-2242075" id="c8edccb3-bc4a-301d-ab45-85fc62a6a031">  a change in breath odor on the ketogenic diet </a> , says Hertzler. Why? One of the ketone bodies that is produced in liver is <a href="https://www.perfectketo.com/what-is-acetone/" id="10467e1e-401b-3be3-af06-34c4f0a720b2">  acetone </a> and it carries an odor, Hertzler explains. That said, many people who are in nutritional ketosis wont experience a significant change in breath odor, so its not a guaranteed side effect.</p>

<h1> 5) You might not be able to poop. </h1>

<p>If youre not mindful of getting enough fiber and other nutrients, <a href="http://www.diagnosisdiet.com/ketosis-and-constipation/" id="aeef4c7b-b174-3343-acaf-d5712c422fb2">  you might experience some digestive discomfort during the keto diet </a> . Keto dieters often cite constipation as a common experience, which is due to lower fiber intake, Hertzler says. Try adding a low-carb fiber supplement to ease symptoms, he suggests.</p>

<p>While you're adapting to the diet, you might feel a bit fatigued, but once your body has adapted, you'll have no issues cranking through a strength session, Bede says. You may want to avoid a ton of exercise in the beginning if youre feeling especially achy and weak. </p>

<p>But as your body settles into ketosis, your performance might be enhanced. Many athletes find that intense workouts equal better ketosis, and their improved body composition is totally worth those few brutal weeks, she explains.</p>

<p>Cutting carbs means you'll naturally eliminate both natural and added sugars. Be prepared to experience some major hankerings for the sweet stuff, says Dr. Brian Quebbemann, M.D., a bariatric surgeon based in California. </p>

<p>"Youre going to have a tough three days," <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a28277408/giving-up-all-sugar/" id="58058827-0fd8-38d2-a345-b72754fae895">  he previously told </a> <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a28277408/giving-up-all-sugar/" id="747961e8-449f-3581-aed5-38a7a4d16480">  Men's Health </a> .</p>

<p>Of course, this varies by person and those who rarely eat sugar may not crave chocolate or cake. </p>

<h1> 8 ) You may develop kidney stones  </h1>

<p>Some doctors believe following high-fat diets may cause some people to experience kidney stones. In fact, research shows that children who follow keto to manage their epilepsy had <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452247/" id="fbc80f7a-1820-354a-af1e-92c0275b7dfa">  higher rates of kidney stones </a> . However, not every medical professional believes the diet itself is to blame.</p>

<p>"Some of the problem might lie in the way that people interpret the keto diet," Dr. Thomas Chi, a urologist at The University of California, San Francisco, told Business Insider. He explained that eating large quantities of meat and not enough water may be the reason some people develop the condition. </p>

<p>These symptoms don't affect everyone, so if you're interested in trying the keto diet, give it a shot and see how you feel. However, the diet is restrictive and can be difficult to follow. Plus, there's no research indicating how keto impacts your overall health or risk of heart disease long-term. </p>

<p>If you try it and do decide it's not right for you, be sure not to jump back into a bowl of pesto penne right away.</p>

<p>When going back to a normal diet, carbs should increase slowly-no going back to old habits overnight, or else weight gain is likely to occur and youre likely to feel terrible, with the influx of sugar that you are no longer accustomed to, says Bede.</p>

8 Things That Happen to Your Body On a Keto Diet

You've probably heard of <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19530409/ketogenic-ketosis-diet-for-beginners/" id="d5e04ea6-06eb-3eee-a018-2e0664913eb7">  the ketogenic diet </a> , or the low-carb, high-fat diet that's trending among athletes and average folk alike. On the surface, it sounds awesome: who doesn't love the idea of eating more steak and bacon? But there are a bunch of keto diet side effects that you probably don't know about. Here's a breakdown of what actually happens ...

8 Ketogenic Diet Side Effects You Can Expect

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Pulse Kenya is the most followed news and entertainment platform in Kenya. It informs and engages young Kenyans around the clock and provides updates by the hour.

by Melissa Matthews, Isadora Baum

Articles written by the author

8 Ketogenic Diet Side Effects You Can Expect