3 Weird Things That Can Happen When You Start Keto

start keto

If you’re about to start the keto diet for the first time, there are a few surprising things that might happen that you need to be aware of.

1. Keto Breath

One surprising thing that definitely took me off guard when I started the keto diet was something known as keto breath. If you’re thinking keto breath might sound a good thing… you’re wrong. Think dragon breath, but maybe a little worse.

When your body enters ketosis, it produces a larger amount of a ketone body called acetone which is eliminated through your breath. You might notice that is has a slightly metallic taste. Don’t worry, keto breath doesn’t last forever and it signals that you’re on the right track. It might be a good idea to keep some sugar-free gum on hand!

2. Trouble Sleeping

Some people notice bouts of insomnia when they first start the diet. This can be attributed to several things. In the beginning of the diet, your body loses a lot of water. With that water loss, you’re also losing electrolytes. Losing an important electrolyte like magnesium could mean you feel more stressed than usual.

If you’re noticing it’s harder to get to sleep, stay hydrated and start incorporating more mineral rich foods.

In addition to the electrolyte balance, you may experience that you just generally have more energy because of all the healthy fats. You may feel more wide awake at bedtime, or you may start waking up earlier. It will all just take a little time to get used to.

3. Keto Flu

This one is exactly what it sounds like. If you’re unaware of the keto flu when you start the diet, it can be a pretty rough transition period. As your body moves into a ketogenic state, you may experience flu-like symptoms. These symptoms include loss of energy, nausea, brain fogginess, and body aches. It may last up to four days or a little less if you’re lucky. It will pass!

Keto flu can be significantly reduced by making sure you get enough electrolytes, especially sodium (salt), potassium and magnesium. If you want a “ready-made,” healthy source for this situation, check out Fat Bombs and Espresso Bars, which are excellent sources of potassium.

As long as your prepared for these surprises, you’re going to be okay! Stay hydrated (meaning that you should up your electrolytes), and stay on track. Once you get past these symptoms, you’ll start feeling better than ever!

2 thoughts on “3 Weird Things That Can Happen When You Start Keto”

  1. I can’t comment on the problems mentioned, since I haven’t had them, but I can talk knowledgeably about the corrective recommendations.
    While generally accurate with regard to correcting imbalances, the recommendations are way too vague.
    “More mineral-rich foods”? And just what are those, exactly? Well, I’LL tell you–varied vegetables in large quantities, whether raw (NOT spinach or the brassicas) or (not over-)cooked. Not grains, potatoes, or legumes (beans) or too many rooties, but the non/low-starchy veggies-leafies, broc, caulif, tomatoes (yes, I know-“fruit”), etc. Don’t worry, the amount of carbs is miniscule for most veg, even in massive quantities. They are all nutrition without much caloric content, unless you cook ’em with fats.

    *Here’s a key general rule to remember through life-veggies for minerals, fruits for vitamins, and animal products for protein and fats.*

    However, for acute mineral deficiencies, and yes, magnesium lack will mess with your sleep and your nerves, one will be better off adding a GOOD high-potency multivitamin/multimineral (Not Centrum, drugstore, or most grocery store brands) morning and evening and adding in a (usually liquid) trace mineral supplement to cover those of the 72 minerals not included in the 10-13 usually present in a multi.
    Oh, and the electrolytes? They are simply the minerals that assist the electrical signals in the body to travel along the nerve and muscle pathways smoothly. They are: Calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate. Some say there are a couple more.
    Oh, and hydrating? Generally a good idea, but it IS possible to overhydrate and wash away some of your electrolytes via the kidneys. Oh, and “sports drinks” for electrolytes? Total crap. Read the ingredients.
    By the way, “Stay hydrated (meaning that you should up your electrolytes)” is confusing. Hydration and replacing electrolytes are two different things.
    There you go, kiddies. Some distilled wisdom from 49 years in the nutritional trenches.
    Oh, and an unsolicited plug: as The World’s Greatest and Most Humble Expert on Protein Bars, my indisputable judgment is that, to date, Marigold takes the pie for both taste and ingredients.

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