Is Keto Dieting Harmful?

The ketogenic diet is a high-fat, adequate-protein, low-carbohydrate dietary therapy that is used primarily to treat difficult-to-control epilepsy in children. When glucose (a type of sugar) is not available to fuel your body’s cells, the liver converts fat into fatty acids called ketones, which are used for energy. This process, known as ketosis, also helps reduce hunger and may lead to weight loss.

While the keto diet is effective for most people, it can be harmful to certain groups of patients:

Some health experts believe that a ketogenic diet could lead to kidney trouble, nutrient deficiencies and an obsession with food. It’s also generally not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers because it eliminates several nutrient-rich foods.

The diet requires careful planning and strict compliance in order to achieve ketosis. A general rule of thumb is to limit your total daily carb intake to 20-50 g, says Dietitians Stone and Dority. This equates to about 1 banana or 412 medium-sized baked potatoes per day. To reach ketosis, you should also limit soluble and insoluble fiber.