Carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy, so when you switch to a low-carb diet, you may start to feel a bit sluggish throughout the day. Weakness and fatigue, sometimes referred to as ketogenic flu, are common side effects of a low-carb diet. This is because people don't get enough fat in their diets. On the ketogenic diet, the majority of your energy comes from calories from fat, both from stored body fat and dietary fats. Some people associate the word “diet” with “low fat”.
When you avoid fats, even healthy fats on the ketogenic diet, your body lacks its main source of energy. Without enough fuel in the form of fats, people may feel exhausted or fatigued on the ketogenic diet. Additionally, consuming too much protein on a low-carb diet can prevent you from entering ketosis. The main mechanism behind low-carb diets is reducing insulin levels. When you're in a state of ketosis, your body needs to quickly adapt to a different way of getting energy, leading to temporary keto fatigue.
This is because your body is consuming all of its stored glucose and not replacing it with carbohydrates. This leads to low levels of insulin in your bloodstream, which can cause mild dehydration, stress, and mineral depletion - all possible causes of feeling tired. A small study of 28 people found that there was a reduction in fatigue from the low-carb diet and related symptoms when dieters consumed 90 milliliters of MCT oil per day for the first 20 days of their diet. According to some scientists, a well-formulated low-carb diet should be high in fat and moderate in protein. If necessary, it is possible to include more carbohydrates to create a more gradual transition to a low carb content. Eating vegetables, lean meats, and quality fats like MCT oil will help you lose weight while still feeling energized.
Gainful offers a special protein powder blend designed for people on a ketogenic diet or those concerned about carbohydrate intake. Those who want to try a ketogenic diet should always talk to their doctor first as it may not be suitable for everyone. To put that into perspective, many people who don't follow a ketogenic diet consume more than 225-325 grams of carbohydrates in their normal diet. The ketogenic diet is often compared to the Atkins diet; however, the two diets differ in their approach to fat intake. If you are healthy or have diabetes that is treated only with diet or metformin alone, there is a very low risk of hypoglycemia. You can also incorporate moderate amounts of coconut oil into your diet or supplement it with ketogenic medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil.
