Keto flu may cause stomach pain and sugar cravings
Highlights
- Keep yourself hydrated to prevent keto flu
- Make sure you sleep well when following keto diet for weight loss
- Get adequate keto-friendly fats to prevent keto flu
If you are on the very popular diet for weight loss-keto diet, and are experiencing headaches, muscle cramps and lethargy more than usual, then you might have keto flu. Keto flu is an unpleasant side effect of following keto diet that are usually experienced by beginners. Symptoms of keto flu can feel similar to the flu and are caused because of very less intake of carbs. Reducing your carb intake can force your body to burn ketones for energy instead of glucose. Ketones are a by-product of fat breakdown and are the main source of energy for people on a keto diet. Transition period in keto diet can be especially difficult for some people. However, there are a few tricks that can help in preventing keto flu.
Keto diet side effects: Symptoms of keto flu
If you have just began following the keto diet, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Headaches
- Muscle cramps
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Poor concentration
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Sugar cravings
- Stomach pain
Keto flu can cause headaches and stomach pain
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Also read: Weight Loss On Keto Diet: How To Know You Are Making Progress?
How to prevent keto flu?
For many people, taking up the keto diet is nothing but a desperate attempt for quick weight loss. And while that is totally understandable, there are a few tricks that can make transition into ketosis a little easier and prevent keto flu.
1. Keep yourself hydrated
Maintaining your hydration levels is an important step not just keto diet followers, but also for those who want to stay fit and healthy. Drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water can reduce keto flu and even prevent it. Staying hydrated can reduce muscle cramps and fatigue.
Drink sufficient water and keep yourself well-hydrated to prevent keto flu
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2. Avoid over-exercising and strenuous exercise
During your transition, it is better to take things slow if you are experiencing keto flu symptoms. During keto flu, you can follow the standard protocol of exercise set by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which states that 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise in a week is sufficient to keep you healthy and maintain your weight.
Also read: Weight Loss: 5 Food Swaps That Can Make Keto Diet Easy To Follow
3. Increase sodium and potassium intake
Replace dietary electrolytes and eat healthy sodium from foods like salted nuts. Cook your food using Himalayan salt. Keto diet reduces insulin levels. When this occurs, kidneys release excess sodium from the body. Keto diet also restricts some high potassium foods like starchy vegetables, fruits and beans. Eat more of leafy green veggies, vegetables, avocados, mushrooms, nuts and salmon to get adequate sodium, potassium and magnesium.
4. Make sure you sleep well
During the initial phase, following the keto diet can make it difficult for you to sleep. But you can try reducing caffeine intake, avoid use of phone, laptop and TV before sleeping, meditation, taking a hot bath before bed time and creating a cosy and comfortable environment in your room to get a good night's sleep. Sleeping well can keep keto flu at bay.
Sleeping well can prevent keto flu
Photo Credit: iStock
Also read: Keto Diet Side Effects: What Is Keto Rash? Here Are Some Treatment Methods You Must Know
5. Get adequate fats
The basics of keto diet for weight loss is to eat more fat, moderate protein and low carbs. To reduce cravings and irritability, it is important that you consume sufficient when following keto diet. Fatty fish, nuts and seeds, coconut, ghee, olive oil and avocado are high fat foods that should be a part of your keto diet. Eating sufficient fat can reduce symptoms of keto flu.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.