The Keto Flu Explained

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Congratulations on starting a new way of living! The most difficult part will soon be over. Any time we begin a new diet or habit we can expect a bit of discomfort. And, the keto diet is no exception.
The keto flu. It is a real thing. It can happen when you drastically and suddenly remove carbs from your diet. Most people will experience some of the symptoms, and some people have been known to experience most of the symptoms. Either way, you need to know about it so you can prepare yourself for it.

Keto Flu

Also known as the ‘carb flu,’ the keto flu is a natural reaction your body experiences when switching from burning glucose (sugar) as energy to burning fat instead.
In the beginning of practicing the keto diet, you may feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Intense cravings for carbohydrate and sugar
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Body aches
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Irritableness

No need to be alarmed. These symptoms are a natural reaction to removing carbs from your diet, and if you are experiencing them then it means you are doing the diet right. Most people do not experience all of the symptoms, only some. And, they will pass in less than a week.

Manage the Symptoms

If you know the symptoms are possible, you can prepare yourself and your kitchen cabinet and pantry to manage them.

• Take an electrolyte supplement to replace the salt that has been removed through increased water intake and reduced carbs.
• Hydrate with water, drink when thirsty, and adding a bit of salt will help
• Drink bone broth because it contains a good amount of water, fat, and salt
• Eat more fat by increasing your use of oil in cooking
• Gentle exercise such as walking or yoga.
• Sleep better. Take an Epsom salt bath: soaking in a warm Epsom salt bath can help soothe and relax your muscles and improve electrolyte absorption.
• Take an exogenous ketone supplement such Perfect Keto. Exogenous ketones help fight fatigue and boost energy levels by raising the ketone levels in your blood.

Get Ready

Be prepared for the symptoms and make a plan to reduce them so that you only experience them for a few days. Being prepared will help you focus on the end goal, which is to lose weight. It will also help you be mindful that at the beginning of anything new, there will be a few days of discomfort. If you are prepared for that, you will view the discomfort as simply part of the process.

Resources

I have a wonderful section called My Keto Panty where you will find recipes, supplement, keto and low carb foods, meal plans and info on many keto friendly things. I also have many posts on Keto. See below for a quick list of my posts.

The main 4 things I love and recommend on a keto lifestyle are these —>

Meats from ButcherBox