Keto diets have additional important drawbacks. The excessive protein in
low-carb diets has the potential to contribute to kidney and liver damage. High protein diets have been
shown to have detrimental effects on heart disease risk factors, including coronary
artery blood flow. They are also not heart-healthy because, like similar low carb
diets, ketogenic diets likely to be deficient in fiber and micronutrients and are
also likely to have the detrimental effect of increased LDL-cholesterol. They
cannot be considered heart-healthy for long-term use.
The lack of carbohydrates forces the body to mobilize some fat, but even more water and
protein is lost. This results in rapid weight loss, but much of it will be lean-body
protein and water, not fat.
Ketosis can make a person feel unwell with “keto flu” (tired, dizzy, nauseated, weak,
and poor sleep). Keto diets may be dangerous for people with heart disease, diabetes,
or kidney problems. Especially people on medications for diabetes or high
blood pressure should not embark on a ketogenic diet without close medical supervision
because they may suffer dangerously low blood sugar or blood pressure.
Of the 35 diets evaluated by nutrition experts in the 2020 U.S. News & World Report,
the ultra-low-fat vegetarian Ornish diet described below was ranked the best
Heart Healthy Diet the Mediterranean Diet was ranked second and the DASH diet
ranked third. The Keto Diet — a low-carb, high-fat regimen — was ranked number
35, in last place, in the Best Diet for Healthy Eating category.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel
Recent Comments