In this first video in a 3-part series, I answer the top Keto Diet Questions I receive from clients like you!
#1. Are there any specific conditions or symptoms that might be a reason to hold off on starting Keto? And are there other diets that could be beneficial?
I believe that Keto in some form or another is beneficial for anyone, and it may not be exactly the same formula for everyone. Most nutritionists and health coaches would agree that processed sugar and carbs need to be eliminated from the diet for optimal health. But, then opinions differ a bit about where to go from there… You have people promoting a complete Vegan diet to people promoting the Carnivore diet—complete opposites! What’s crazy is that french fries and margaritas are Vegan! And eating processed salami and bacon are Carnivore. For most people there is a middle ground that works between Paleo and Keto. Now, you can actually stick to a Vegan or Carnivore diet and still be Paleo or Keto, not to confuse things. The difference is that Paleo can be a low carb, high protein, moderate fat diet, whereas Keto is a low carb, high fat, moderate protein diet. But you can be Paleo and Keto at the same time, which is what I follow personally. Paleo focuses on whole foods, lots of veggies, animal protein and can include starchy veggies like sweet potatoes. It is based on what our ancestors ate. Keto would keep the carbs at a lower amount than Paleo and not include the starchy veggies and would incorporate a higher percentage of healthy fats. I want to make that distinction because some who are transferring from a low fat, high carb diet to Keto may feel nauseous as their body isn’t used to digesting that amount of healthy fat. Paleo would be a good way to transition to Keto.
#2. I’ve noticed that when I tried eating the high amount of fat required for a Keto diet, it made me extremely sick and nauseous. I even tried taking high doses of digestive enzymes specific for fat and that didn’t seem to help. (Though maybe I needed an extreme amount?) Any thoughts/suggestions for someone in my situation?
As the body starts a ketogenic diet, the liver and gallbladder are starting to cleanse, which in itself can cause a bit of nausea, and the liver and gallbladder are also trying to break down the fats which will cause nausea. So, a few things you can do to help the process is take GB-6 to support the bile production for the gallbladder, and take Digestive enzymes, especially the Assist Dairy and Protein which is designed for the ketogenic diet and has HCL in it… Lastly, starting with exogenous ketones to help your body quickly learn to fuel on ketones and help you become Keto-adapted quicker really cuts down on that “Keto-flu” feeling some people experience. They deliver your body ready to use ketones and teach your body how to convert fat into ketones. You have to remember you are switching fuel systems. You are asking your body to learn to use a fuel that is meant to be used as our ancestors did, but we haven’t been using it for most of our lives! You have to exercise the digesting fat muscle to become more efficient. You are “waking up” that metabolic pathway that has been dormant for year. But once your body has learned to use it efficiently, you will have never felt better with optimal physical, mental energy, reduced inflammation and emotionally stable.
Another possibility is it may indicate that you need a liver flush. Also there are herbs for your spleen that could be helpful as the spleen is the battery pack for the stomach and digestion. Your body hasn’t been digesting fats for years and years on a low fat diet. It is like exercising muscles—you have to use them for them to work!
#3. Is there a way you can phase into the keto diet or does is need to be more of an all at once type of thing?
Definitely phase into it. Some people can phase into it faster than others depending on what their previous diet has been and what their level of insulin resistance has been… Start with the Keto Shake and a low carb diet and slowly increase the fats. It would look more like a Paleo diet with the the Exogenous Ketones added. Some feel better by starting with higher protein and lower fats. The first goal is to make sure the carbs are below 20-40 grams. Fill up on greens and organic protein. I also recommend eating clean whole foods, not what is now termed “Dirty keto” — bars, packaged foods, bacon, over processed dairy, etc. There are ingredients in these products that could cause nausea or inflammation where you think that those symptoms are coming from the Keto diet and really they are coming from unnatural or “dirty” ingredients.
Sara Banta
Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.
