As with most diets, there are fables people tell about the ketogenic diet. The keto diet has several misconceptions, and here are 5 of the most common myths.
1. Ketosis And Ketoacidosis Are The Same Things
Ketosis and ketoacidosis are two different things, yet they are linked together.
Ketoacidosis is a potentially life-threatening state in which the body's blood is highly acidic and is most often seen in people with diabetes. That’s not ketosis.
Ketosis shifts your body into fat-burning mode after draining it off glycogen (carbs).
Unless you have a preexisting condition, this won’t cause you to have abdominal pain, blurry vision, and other symptoms of ketoacidosis.
2. A High Fat Diet Will Give You Heart Disease
This is an old-school myth that needs to be put to bed.
This myth dates back to the 1940s. During this time, a man named Ancel Keys did some really poor research and came up with a theory called the Lipid Hypothesis.
His theory said that eating saturated fats and dietary cholesterol would put people at risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
Thankfully, modern science has gotten more clarity about this.
Many chronic diseases that plague mankind today (like heart disease and cancer) became more prominent when healthy saturated fats and cholesterol were removed from the diet and replaced with hydrogenated fats (i.e., trans fat) and grains.
The keto diet replaces these harmful fats and grains with healthy fats and protein.
Speaking of fat…
3. You Can Eat Any Fat
Some people think the keto diet is nothing more than a fat fest. Wrong!
It is unhealthy to load up on bacon and other foods high in saturated fat. You have to eat healthy unsaturated fats to benefit from this diet.
According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, replacing saturated fat (bacon, sausages, ham, etc.) with unsaturated fat (walnuts, flax seed, fish, etc.) is more effective in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease than simply reducing total fat consumption.
4. A Low Carb Diet Is A Nutrient Deficient Diet
One of the biggest myths is that keeping carbs low means nutrition will be low too.
How? This diet allows carb-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, lean meats, nuts, seeds, and oils.
The foods allow give you an abundance of vitamins and minerals. (Later, we will have a list of keto-friendly foods).
5. The Keto Diet Is Dangerous
I laughed at this last myth.
Look, this diet isn’t the water or some other ludicrous diet where it has you eating like a bird. All it asks from you is to remove grains and bad fat. That’s it.
Sure, your body will have to adjust to it for the first few days and possibly weeks, which could cause minor headaches. But after that, you’re good.
The human body can adjust to way harsher things than a low-carb diet. (e.g., a person getting used to cocaine)
Leave a review or ask a question