Sara Petrucci

My Thoughts on the

The Ketosis Diet aka " Keto-Diet" Fad:

I'm sure you have heard of this new diet fad, know someone who has peed on a stick to "check their ketones", or maybe you have tried ketosis yourself....and if you haven't, you are about to learn more about it! 

*Now I'm sure my post will upset those who swear by ketosis. I'm not doubting that it can be done in moderation,  safely, and with great success for some...but the following is my personal opinion and based on the medical knowledge I have as a family nurse practitioner who currently specializes in urology. 

What is Ketosis?

 When our bodies don't have glucose from carbohydrates available to burn for energy, we can break down fat, in the form of ketone bodies, to burn for energy. Think of it as the body's defense mechanism in case there's no food  available for us to remain alive. 

But while in a state of ketosis, your body not only burns your fat, it can begin to burn your muscle (that you worked pretty hard for I’m sure) down for fuel also.

Muscle is what increases your metabolism and burns more unwanted fat so you definitely do NOT want to burn muscle!  

Your heart is also a muscle, hence why these diets have been linked to heart problems…..and your heart is the most important muscle you've got!

The Ketosis Diet may help you drop pounds quickly (although the majority of that is probably due to water weight), if you stay in this state of Ketosis, you become very tired and your body can enter starvation mode!

What happens in starvation mode?!

Our bodies are pretty amazing and one of the main things our bodies do is protect us. If your body is “starving”, guess what it’s going to store as protection?! FAT!..and guess what it doesn't want you to do?! Lose weight/fat!!

Another consequence of Ketosis is that in that state, our bodies have the potential to become very acidic which leads to many healthy problems. Now many argue that the level of ketones in nutritional ketosis will never create the pH imbalances that occur in diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis or DKA, is a very serious condition that diabetics can suffer from. When someone has diabetes, they either do not make insulin (type 1), or their cells become desensitized to insulin from years of very high blood sugar, such that overtime the insulin that is secreted doesn't work like it should (Type 2).

*Think of it as a lock and a key.  Insulin is the key to unlock our cells and allow the glucose (sugar) to enter for energy.

In DKA, diabetics’ body cells become so starved that the person experiences a host of medical problems and can actually enter a diabetic COMA!

OK back to Keto-Diet….

Now, in a person who makes insulin normally, should have a well functioning negative feedback mechanism, which therefore should keep them from building up a high enough level of ketones in their blood stream to cause the acidity that leads a diabetic down the road of severe problems associated with DKA.

Those of us with a normally functioning pancreas that secretes insulin as it should are said to be in “Nutritional Ketosis”.

My Issues with the Keto Diet:

Being in a state of "Nutritional Ketosis" claims that we will lose weight since our bodies will not be using glucose as fuel but will switch to using fat. And although it's been shown to be beneficial for short term weight loss, I just can't see this as a healthy weight-loss plan as it's way too hard (and potentially damaging) to sustain!

While eating a “high protein, no carb” diet isn't all that bad for a healthy person on occasion, there are known health problems associated with eating this way long term!

First off, as mentioned already above, you cannot survive in a state of “starvation” (I’m talking cellular). Even if it’s not going to cause the high acidic levels to create the problems that those with diabetes will suffer in ketosis, eating in a way that for most, is not going to be sustainable long term for most people, which just sets them up for weight gain later!!

 Secondly, eating a very high protein diet (esp animal protein) can also be very hard on the kidneys (I work in urology!), can increase the formation of kidney stones (ouch!), and Ketosis very often causes BAD BREATH!!!!! 

Eating a diet very high in animal proteins CAN create an acidic state in our bodies and to combat this acidity, our body pulls Calcium (acid buffer) from our bones to neutralize this state which can weaken the bones! 

Thirdly, many people who choose to follow the Keto-Diet often consume unhealthy foods that are high in animal fats and cholesterol simply because they are high in protein or low in carbohydrates. 

Ok, so you may fit into that pair of jeans this week, but you’ll have bad breath, be in pain from kidney stones, and once you go back to eating normally, gain all that weight back….Sound like a plan for success????

I’m sorry to sound like a HATER and I’m in NO way saying go out and eat all the carbs in the world, but in my personal opinion living in an unnatural state where your body is having to work to protect you is not a great long term weight loss plan. 

It's one thing to give up bread, but I just can't wrap my head around eliminating an entire macro-nutrient category (carbohydrates) from the diet as a healthy or sustainable plan. I believe that nutrition is a balance of micro and macro nutrients that work together. 

I think I'll stick to my balanced whole food diet with lots of plant based foods (that do have carbs) and protein...and I'll leave you to decide what works best for you!