Allaying family/friends fears of Ketosis
bookyeti
Posts: 544 Member
"I'm only saying this because I'm concerned for you.... "
"Ketosis is dangerous... "
"Have you researched all the risks that a Ketogenic diet entails?"
Have you heard something like that before from well-intentioned family/friends about your way of eating? How do you allay their fears/concerns that you're in ketosis, which they insist is dangerous and/or unhealthy? My older sister has said something similar to me - despite the fact she sees I've lost weight, am feeling much better, and am benefiting from the energy that comes from keto eating. I have sent her various links from NIH on the studies of ketogenic diet's benefits (especially for someone like me with PCOS and insulin resistance) and told her how Ketosis works.
She thinks a ketogenic diet is unbalaned and dangerous. She has used this article to back it up (go to bottom of page where it says "Unhealthy metabolic state"): http://www.webmd.com/diet/high-protein-low-carbohydrate-diets
...this despite the fact that a ketogenic diet is not a high protein diet at all!
What would you say?
"Ketosis is dangerous... "
"Have you researched all the risks that a Ketogenic diet entails?"
Have you heard something like that before from well-intentioned family/friends about your way of eating? How do you allay their fears/concerns that you're in ketosis, which they insist is dangerous and/or unhealthy? My older sister has said something similar to me - despite the fact she sees I've lost weight, am feeling much better, and am benefiting from the energy that comes from keto eating. I have sent her various links from NIH on the studies of ketogenic diet's benefits (especially for someone like me with PCOS and insulin resistance) and told her how Ketosis works.
She thinks a ketogenic diet is unbalaned and dangerous. She has used this article to back it up (go to bottom of page where it says "Unhealthy metabolic state"): http://www.webmd.com/diet/high-protein-low-carbohydrate-diets
...this despite the fact that a ketogenic diet is not a high protein diet at all!
What would you say?
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Replies
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Is she really willing to listen? Or is she committed to her beliefs, and nothing will change them?
If she is actually willing to listen and learn, Fathead is probably the easiest intro. Why We Get Fat, and What to Do About it (Taubes) if more open. Even Taubes "What if it's all been a big fat lie" is a good read (although 10+ years old).
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/07/magazine/what-if-it-s-all-been-a-big-fat-lie.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=FSeSTq-N4U4&desktop_uri=/watch?v=FSeSTq-N4U4
If she's not open minded, then there probably isn't anything you can say that is going to persuade. Her beliefs are ingrained. If this is the case, ignore her, and keep keto'ing on.
What a terrible article. Absolute BS.
The Reddit FAQ has some good resources at the end. A link to Fathead is here. Actually, most everything under the Resources section is good.
http://www.reddit.com/r/keto/wiki/faq
I think what's really important, is that YOU believe this is healthy. Otherwise, comments will undermine your commitment.0 -
Thanks for that!
Just to clarify: nothing's going to stop me from doing what I feel is right for my body. She - or anyone else, for that matter - can say what they want, but I'm obviously thriving on Keto and it's doing me a lot of good. But I just wanted to try to allay her fears a bit, as she seemed genuinely concerned.
These points will definitely help her understand what keto really is.0 -
I have no faith in anything WebMD posts after reading that article. Not that I had much faith before, but really? Ketosis is a dangerous metabolic state? Well someone might want to tell Johns Hopkins as they have been successfully prescribing a ketogenic diet to epileptic children for decades. sigh. Idiots.
Just stick to what feels right for your body and continue to be healthy. They can't argue with healthy results. Good luck!0 -
I still workout at the gym that I used to work at. I told all my friends I was doing this Keto diet. They laughed. Saying you'll just get fatter. My workout bubby kept his carb diet. I did my keto.
2 Months later = Best ripped healthy shape of my life + stronger.
Workout buddy got jealous. Few of my friends converted...
The only warning I give people is not to do the diet if you're a diabetic. diabetics can’t produce any insulin, so if they were to do this type of diet they continue to produce more and more ketones without stopping. This would cause a pH imbalance will be fatal to the person.0 -
Actually, it's a great diet for diabetics especially type 2. I am one. I have been on a keto diet for over a year now. Uncontrolled insulin dependent diabetics can have problems with it but the operative words are "uncontrolled" and "insulin dependent".I still workout at the gym that I used to work at. I told all my friends I was doing this Keto diet. They laughed. Saying you'll just get fatter. My workout bubby kept his carb diet. I did my keto.
2 Months later = Best ripped healthy shape of my life + stronger.
Workout buddy got jealous. Few of my friends converted...
The only warning I give people is not to do the diet if you're a diabetic. diabetics can’t produce any insulin, so if they were to do this type of diet they continue to produce more and more ketones without stopping. This would cause a pH imbalance will be fatal to the person.0 -
I think ketoacidosis is only in the picture if someone is a Type 1 Diabetic. Am I right?0
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I think ketoacidosis is only in the picture if someone is a Type 1 Diabetic. Am I right?
Yes, a lot of people confuse keto (dietary induced) with Ketoacidosis which is a complication that diabetics need to watch out for.0 -
I feel safe to just say it's not good for diebetics if someone was to ask me about it. Not going to take chances.0
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I feel safe to just say it's not good for diebetics if someone was to ask me about it. Not going to take chances.
But this is incorrect. Please don't propagate bad information. Tell them you don't know, but don't give incorrect info that it isn't good for diabetics.
I had a co-worker who is diabetic ask me about keto. , I gave him info, and plenty of resources to research, and suggested he discuss with his doctor. 3 months later and he has lost 25 pounds, come off his diabetes meds, and has had a fantastic panel of bloodwork. When I see him at work, he now thanks me for saving his life.0 -
I feel safe to just say it's not good for diebetics if someone was to ask me about it. Not going to take chances.
But this is incorrect. Please don't propagate bad information. Tell them you don't know, but don't give incorrect info that it isn't good for diabetics.
I had a co-worker who is diabetic ask me about keto. , I gave him info, and plenty of resources to research, and suggested he discuss with his doctor. 3 months later and he has lost 25 pounds, come off his diabetes meds, and has had a fantastic panel of bloodwork. When I see him at work, he now thanks me for saving his life.
I see what you're saying. Instead I should be saying to make sure to see a doctor instead before switching to this type of diet. I just don't want to deal with the complications if something were to happen. Based on what I researched I've always found that the diet was not recommended for diabetics. Guess with careful monitoring it would work. Sorry if I offended anyone.0 -
A keto diet is becoming more and more recommended for diabetics. It is extremely effective for diabetic control.I feel safe to just say it's not good for diebetics if someone was to ask me about it. Not going to take chances.
But this is incorrect. Please don't propagate bad information. Tell them you don't know, but don't give incorrect info that it isn't good for diabetics.
I had a co-worker who is diabetic ask me about keto. , I gave him info, and plenty of resources to research, and suggested he discuss with his doctor. 3 months later and he has lost 25 pounds, come off his diabetes meds, and has had a fantastic panel of bloodwork. When I see him at work, he now thanks me for saving his life.
I see what you're saying. Instead I should be saying to make sure to see a doctor instead before switching to this type of diet. I just don't want to deal with the complications if something were to happen. Based on what I researched I've always found that the diet was not recommended for diabetics. Guess with careful monitoring it would work. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Honestly, the only ones who need to worry about ketoacidosis are those type 1 or juvenile diabetics who do not produce any insulin at all and are not taking their insulin properly and are not monitoring their blood glucose levels to make sure they are taking the right amount of insulin. But, the majority of such diabetics would never stick to a keto diet to begin with.
The biggest concern for an insulin dependent diabetic going on a keto diet would be insulin reaction (low blood sugar). They would need to monitor their blood sugar levels very closely to regulate the right amount of insulin to take. They absolutely would need to be in close contact with their doctor.0 -
I actually haven't had many people question what I'm doing. I live in Boulder, Colorado, where everyone thinks they are a nutritionist (and a physical trainer, for that matter) and are usually keyed into the elements of healthy eating. I choose to eat a small number of carbs and get them from healthy green vegetables instead of pasta, bread, and baked good. That's hard to argue with.
I have had some people say what I'm doing is not "a sustainable lifestyle change," but I tell them that I'm eating healthier than I ever had before in my life; I eat meat, vegetables, healthy fats and a little bit of dairy -- these are all delicious and easy to find almost anywhere so I think that means it should be easy to sustain long-term. Someone did try to sell me on Weight Watchers, but why would I go starve myself on 1,000 calories a day when I could be eating like a queen? At the end of the day, what's "missing" from my diet is sugar -- whether it's sugar when it enters my mouth (like a candy bar) or turned into sugar as soon as I swallow it (bread), it's sugar -- and when you phrase it like that, most would agree that no/less sugar sounds healthy.
All that being said, I think we are on the brink of this becoming a bit more mainstream and accepted. I could be wrong, but two recent pieces of news have given me some great hope: 1) Gary Taubes recently started an organization that's going to conduct some serious, controlled, truly scientific studies. I am confident that in a year or two these studies will yield incredible results that the press and medical community will need to listen to. 2) Ben Greenfield is going to train for a triathalon while in ketosis for 3 months. So many in the fitness world think you just have to have carbs in order for peak performance. I am super confident he'll prove 'em wrong.0 -
I actually haven't had many people question what I'm doing. I live in Boulder, Colorado, where everyone thinks they are a nutritionist (and a physical trainer, for that matter) and are usually keyed into the elements of healthy eating. I choose to eat a small number of carbs and get them from healthy green vegetables instead of pasta, bread, and baked good. That's hard to argue with.
I have had some people say what I'm doing is not "a sustainable lifestyle change," but I tell them that I'm eating healthier than I ever had before in my life; I eat meat, vegetables, healthy fats and a little bit of dairy -- these are all delicious and easy to find almost anywhere so I think that means it should be easy to sustain long-term. Someone did try to sell me on Weight Watchers, but why would I go starve myself on 1,000 calories a day when I could be eating like a queen? At the end of the day, what's "missing" from my diet is sugar -- whether it's sugar when it enters my mouth (like a candy bar) or turned into sugar as soon as I swallow it (bread), it's sugar -- and when you phrase it like that, most would agree that no/less sugar sounds healthy.
All that being said, I think we are on the brink of this becoming a bit more mainstream and accepted. I could be wrong, but two recent pieces of news have given me some great hope: 1) Gary Taubes recently started an organization that's going to conduct some serious, controlled, truly scientific studies. I am confident that in a year or two these studies will yield incredible results that the press and medical community will need to listen to. 2) Ben Greenfield is going to train for a triathalon while in ketosis for 3 months. So many in the fitness world think you just have to have carbs in order for peak performance. I am super confident he'll prove 'em wrong.
I live in the Boulder area too- so true!!0 -
S'funny...I basically told her this word for word when I saw her over the weekend.I choose to eat a small number of carbs and get them from healthy green vegetables instead of pasta, bread, and baked good. That's hard to argue with.
I have had some people say what I'm doing is not "a sustainable lifestyle change," but I tell them that I'm eating healthier than I ever had before in my life; I eat meat, vegetables, healthy fats and a little bit of dairy -- these are all delicious and easy to find almost anywhere so I think that means it should be easy to sustain long-term. Someone did try to sell me on Weight Watchers, but why would I go starve myself on 1,000 calories a day when I could be eating like a queen? At the end of the day, what's "missing" from my diet is sugar -- whether it's sugar when it enters my mouth (like a candy bar) or turned into sugar as soon as I swallow it (bread), it's sugar -- and when you phrase it like that, most would agree that no/less sugar sounds healthy. She didn't say much. Ah well. 0
