Why Keto and Low Carb are Dangerous for Your Health.
Things I learned and the damage I caused my body while practicing a low carb and keto approach to my nutrition.
Low Carb and Keto Damaged my Health...
I used to wholeheartedly practice and promote low carb/ketogenic ways of eating, man was I mis-lead!
For a time when I was killing Candida in my system, it did serve me well to be strict with limiting fruits and starches to a couple of small servings per day, however, the continued practice of this along with sugar-free, high-fat coffee and teas to get going in the morning definitely ended up being counterproductive to my long term health.
I found my body getting colder and more prone to depression spells and more dependent on stimulants to get through the day.
It felt like my gas tank was never full, I didn't have the explosive power for training that I used to have, and I ended up feeling quite sluggish.
Sure I looked good and was lean and could go many hours in between meals (FYI, Not being hungry for long periods is not necessarily a good sign. I know, I know, all you intermittent fasting folks just got offended, don't worry, I was one of you too and will talk about that soon ), but internally I was struggling.
It turns out that carbs, primarily from fruits, maple syrup, raw honey, and well-cooked starches are very effective at supporting a healthy metabolism and when consumed in balance with protein and fat, stabilize blood sugar just fine, all while giving our cells the glucose and fructose they use to create ATP and CO2 which ends up fueling our brains and bodies.
Even though I had learned this in my studies in biochemistry and anatomy I let hype and bulletproof coffee and biohacking influencers convince me otherwise.
It was a great learning process because I had already understood how the ATP / Krebs cycle works inside the mitochondria to generate energy, and yet the hype and confirmation bias in the alternative health world and the initial good results had me drinking the kool-aid (or should I say, fatty coffee) and not paying attention to my bodies internal guidance.
So let this be my PSA to proclaim that I am no longer a fan of nor do I recommend a keto/low carb/any other diet and that all of these things are simply tools for specific cases at specific times with the clients and individuals for whom it makes sense.
Don't put yourself or your clients into a box!
So take heart if you have tried keto and it didn't work or you felt worse or gained weight or if you're currently doing it and finding that your hair is falling out or your skin is dry or your digestion is stressed, let's give ourselves the permission to CHANGE and ADAPT and DIS-IDENTIFY with what you do/don't eat.
All that diet dogma is bad for the brain and creates more resistance/separation when what we want is harmony and wholeness!
In health,
P.S. enjoy this simple infographic that summarizes some of the most stressful aspects of a low carb/keto diet.
Keto and Low Carb Dangers Infographic
Don’t trash your metabolism trying to “bio-hack” yourself into health, instead, focus on the basics and feed your cells in an effective and sustainable and addiction-free fashion.
