Beyond that, people at risk for heart disease will probably want to avoid the diet, or consult their doctor before trying it, because many foods on a ketogenic diet are high in saturated fat. “If you already have kidney issues, the diet is not going to be right for you,” says Hultin. “So when people decide to try the diet to lose weight, they're often doing so without the medical specialists they would otherwise need,” Hultin explains.Īnother risk? The diet can strain the kidneys if they’re already damaged. Keto beginners may follow the diet incorrectly and miss out on potassium, calcium, magnesium, and fiber - essential nutrients that are commonly found in whole grains, certain veggies, and fruits, foods that are limited on a keto menu. People with epilepsy, most commonly children, get regular blood work and lab tests, and are under medical supervision so that doctors and dietitians can confirm they’re getting the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy, she says. "People often don’t know it’s a medically prescribed diet for patients with epilepsy," says Hultin. RELATED: 10 Steps Beginners Should Take Before Trying the Keto Diet Keto Health Risks to KnowĪlso, the diet isn't without risks. "Because 80 percent or more of your calories must come from fat, if you're doing the diet correctly, you need to be calculating, weighing, and measuring what you’re eating," she says.
The reason for this, says Hultin, is that the diet itself is challenging to follow. "In general, people say they're on the ketogenic diet, but it's not actually the case - a lot of times they're just doing a low-carb plan," says Ginger Hultin, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a Seattle-based dietitian. Are you considering going on the ketogenic diet? Before you start filling your shopping cart with grass-fed butter and bacon, know this: While you’ve likely heard about this high-fat, very low carbohydrate diet - and you probably even have a friend or two who have tried it - there's still a lot of confusion about what it really takes to follow keto.