Pros and cons of a Keto Diet

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  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    True there are flavours of the month/year. I get that. It just sometimes feels to me, and this is just my perception, that these diets do get attacked because they are named diets that have been, or are, popular. It does not necessarily make the health benefits that some experience on these diets (not just keto) wrong.

    Some diets can help some people's health. Keto can be very good for those with IR, NAFLD, PCOS, epilepsy, some brain cancers or along with some therapies like chemo, some possible help with Alzheimer's disease (there -I came along and said it ;) ), and for some with CAD, IBS or other ailments. Other diets (seems to usually be whole foods based) can help with some of these same problems or other issues. Specific diets can also help with weight loss if they help with satiety, stabilized BG, better energy, better portion control, more balanced hormones, or for other reasons.

    For those who finally find a diet that is improving their health, or making weight loss possible after years of struggle, a specific diet can feel like a miracle cure to that person. Sure, it won't work for everyone, just like all drugs do not work for everyone, but we often see people being told that their experience is wrong, or that they are wrong, simply because instead of saying "some people can be helped" they said "it will help". All that is needed there is a gentle correction that it may not work for all. Instead it can feel like an attack on someone who is new and just wanting to share their excitement.

    It's almost like a kid showing off his new toy car and getting the response of "Meh. I don't like cars. It's not great" from those who are older and more experienced. A response of "I'm glad you like it," might fit better, and without the disclaimer of "but I don't like it." KWIM?

    Of course on this thread, the OP asked for personal pros and cons. Giving your own experiences, both pros and cons was asked for. An "I didn't like it," fits perfectly in this thread. But saying someone's pro or con is wrong is a bit presumptuous - on both sides.

    This is just my perception and opinion though. No one else's.

    Ironically, all those perceptions I share with all the keto-zealots and why i regularly correct people in keto threads. Personally, whatever diet a person finds sustainable is great. Heck, I have trained people from keto to vegan. I will never tell people to not follow a diet.

    I will note, in my mod experience, no thread is worse than one from an overzealous new vegan (generally a teen) who thinks that we are all murdering animals, drinking animal puss, etc.. Because even experienced and educated vegans will battle against them.

    Animal puss? mmm. LOL

    I can see vegan converts being enthusiastic since veganism is almost as much a philosophy and way of life as it is a way of eating. Makes sense... Makes me curious to check out more vegan threads too. ;)

    The animal puss thing usually in the "is dairy healthy for you" threads..... almost every single time.
  • emailmehere1122
    emailmehere1122 Posts: 140 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    I am Keto, don't have bad breath, don't eat loads of meat (many things contain protein) and the fat in my diet is not all dairy (fish for example has lots of healthy fat). I eat veggies and fruit every day but as stated by another member here...you have to choose your foods and manage your diet plan and the carb by making choices. Even if your counting calories, your making decisions and choices every day about what you eat. My optimal calorie count is in the same health range recommended by many plans and even MFP at 1300-1600.

    Many Keto/low carb recipes are similar to gluten free recipes. Gluten is associated with inflammation and allergies. This tends to help Keto followers to also improve similar ailments. There is not a think I eat that I cant find a keto based/log carb recipe to substitute. My family can rarely tell the difference between those recipes and other less healthy forms. This week, I have had a piece of NY Baked Cheese cake for dessert, everyday! last week it was Chocolate cookies...the week before, Peanut butter Cookies. I do use a couple of non white flower substitutes when baking but Walmart and Kroger and Publix all carry them, all the time. I had the most amazing parmesan crusted Talipa last night with green beans. I grow a 1ac organic veggie garden and eat everything from tomatoes, egg plant and cabbage from it.

    20g of carbs is not required for ketosis. It can be 30-40-50. It just depends on your goals. What is required is a specific balance of carbs/fat/protein to accomplish ketosis. Just loading on protein and being low in carbs in not the process. The web contains several good calculators to help you determine the marcos that work for you height/age/body fat content and your goals. They will also tell you the calorie counts for optimal results. You can actually play with scenarios in these calculators to tweak it to something that fits your life style. In fact, as you body fat decreases, you should recalculate because it affects ketosis and your macros.

    Managing my weight and building muscle (with exercise of course) has improved for me, so much on the Keto Diet.

    The bold is only true in those with celiac and allergies to wheat; similar to nuts or dairy. Outside of that, it doesn't cause chronic inflammation. Even more so, whole grains has actually been shown to improve health.


    She said gluten is associated with inflammation and allergies ( which is true just like nuts and diary )...not it causes inflammation and allergies... and she got wooed and you got thumbs up...just like they said it would happen. I'm not a keto person but they are right...if they try to have a thread in here they get shredded

    I am very well aware of gluten. And it still not associated with inflammation (unless you take the advice from wheat belly). I have quite a bit of experience with gluten free and have done a good amount of research. My wife has an autonomic disorder called POTS. Anecdotally, people have seen improvements by going gluten free; my wife was gluten free for 4 years. Unfortunately, there is very little actual science out there for gluten free. And that may because they havent developed the correct measures or techniques to evaluate it. But for the general populous, there isnt current evidence to support that claim.

    At best with all my wife's medical issues, i have had every single gastroenterologist tell my wife to start eating gluten again because it wasn't benefiting her and could potentially cause other issues with her diverticulitis.



    I think you're missing the point of what I was trying to say. The main message I was attempting to convey was the keto people are unfairly treated. She had one word being inflammation that you disagreed with so you pulled your monitor ruler out of of the desk and rapped her across the knuckles for it. You received thumbs up and she got wooed...as expected... out of four paragraphs over one word.

    With that being said she used the word "associated" with inflammation not "causes". That's a true statement for some people whether there's scientific evidence to support it or not.

    Per google:

    Associate: verb- "connect (someone or something) with something else in one's mind."

    I associate chilli with cold weather...there is no scientific evidence linking them,nor does there have to be to associate things together,but when I think of eating chilli I also think of it being eaten during a cold time of the year

    The only reasons for anyone to call her out over her statement about gluten was because they didn't comprehend it or to instigate


    Ketoers aren't being unfairly treated. If they come and spout BS about how you will lose more, easier faster and don't even need to reduce your calories or that it prevents and heals any ailment under the heavens, that's when people call them out on their wrong, unfounded crap.


    If they spout bull then so be it...he was claiming she said something she clearly didn't say
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    J72FIT wrote: »
    Before I get a bunch of die hard echo's of how wrong this is...take it for the light hearted way it is meant.

    Over breakfast this morning I asked our teenager his opinion on dietary plans that count carbs vs calories. He is a non athlete, tested/considered intelligently gifted and currently in a health class. He is slim and has never struggled with a weight issue.

    He told me that one of his friends was counting both carbs and calories and doing really well. He only ate two big macs when they went out Monday night and just half the pizza instead of the whole thing last night.

    There you go...a plan that can do both!

    Ah to be a teenager again...

    Right. When I was a teen, I was able to down a large pizza or 3 big mac's in a sitting. Never gained weight and had perfect health. But I also played ice hockey and soccer.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,002 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    J72FIT wrote: »
    Before I get a bunch of die hard echo's of how wrong this is...take it for the light hearted way it is meant.

    Over breakfast this morning I asked our teenager his opinion on dietary plans that count carbs vs calories. He is a non athlete, tested/considered intelligently gifted and currently in a health class. He is slim and has never struggled with a weight issue.

    He told me that one of his friends was counting both carbs and calories and doing really well. He only ate two big macs when they went out Monday night and just half the pizza instead of the whole thing last night.

    There you go...a plan that can do both!

    Ah to be a teenager again...

    Right. When I was a teen, I was able to down a large pizza or 3 big mac's in a sitting. Never gained weight and had perfect health. But I also played ice hockey and soccer.

    Mine was Taco Bell. I had some epic stints there...
  • BodyByButter
    BodyByButter Posts: 563 Member
    I guess what I don't understand is, if you aren't about keto or low carb, why keep coming to the thread to evangelize against it? Just pass by the thread.

    It's a pros and cons thread. People can share opinions.

    I personally low carbed for 10 years. I have opinions about sustainability.

    That's fair.
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    J72FIT wrote: »
    Before I get a bunch of die hard echo's of how wrong this is...take it for the light hearted way it is meant.

    Over breakfast this morning I asked our teenager his opinion on dietary plans that count carbs vs calories. He is a non athlete, tested/considered intelligently gifted and currently in a health class. He is slim and has never struggled with a weight issue.

    He told me that one of his friends was counting both carbs and calories and doing really well. He only ate two big macs when they went out Monday night and just half the pizza instead of the whole thing last night.

    There you go...a plan that can do both!

    Ah to be a teenager again...

    Right. When I was a teen, I was able to down a large pizza or 3 big mac's in a sitting. Never gained weight and had perfect health. But I also played ice hockey and soccer.

    Pfft, I can down a whole large pizza*, having had normal breakfast and lunch, and still be at a deficit. You guys aren't trying hard enough :p


    *admittedly the bases on the pizza I get are really thin, and they're only ~1240 cals...
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    J72FIT wrote: »
    Before I get a bunch of die hard echo's of how wrong this is...take it for the light hearted way it is meant.

    Over breakfast this morning I asked our teenager his opinion on dietary plans that count carbs vs calories. He is a non athlete, tested/considered intelligently gifted and currently in a health class. He is slim and has never struggled with a weight issue.

    He told me that one of his friends was counting both carbs and calories and doing really well. He only ate two big macs when they went out Monday night and just half the pizza instead of the whole thing last night.

    There you go...a plan that can do both!

    Ah to be a teenager again...

    Right. When I was a teen, I was able to down a large pizza or 3 big mac's in a sitting. Never gained weight and had perfect health. But I also played ice hockey and soccer.

    Pfft, I can down a whole large pizza*, having had normal breakfast and lunch, and still be at a deficit. You guys aren't trying hard enough :p


    *admittedly the bases on the pizza I get are really thin, and they're only ~1240 cals...

    Thin pizza is not how I roll. To me that is like cardboard with a little bit of sauce and cheese..
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    psuLemon wrote: »
    Nony_Mouse wrote: »
    psuLemon wrote: »
    J72FIT wrote: »
    Before I get a bunch of die hard echo's of how wrong this is...take it for the light hearted way it is meant.

    Over breakfast this morning I asked our teenager his opinion on dietary plans that count carbs vs calories. He is a non athlete, tested/considered intelligently gifted and currently in a health class. He is slim and has never struggled with a weight issue.

    He told me that one of his friends was counting both carbs and calories and doing really well. He only ate two big macs when they went out Monday night and just half the pizza instead of the whole thing last night.

    There you go...a plan that can do both!

    Ah to be a teenager again...

    Right. When I was a teen, I was able to down a large pizza or 3 big mac's in a sitting. Never gained weight and had perfect health. But I also played ice hockey and soccer.

    Pfft, I can down a whole large pizza*, having had normal breakfast and lunch, and still be at a deficit. You guys aren't trying hard enough :p


    *admittedly the bases on the pizza I get are really thin, and they're only ~1240 cals...

    Thin pizza is not how I roll. To me that is like cardboard with a little bit of sauce and cheese..

    Oh this is definitely not like cardboard! It's actually a sprouted seed base (wheat is one of my eczema triggers). One of the handy side effects of not being able to eat the standard base is that it's soooo much easier to fit into my cals :D And delicious. Kind of like having your pizza on a giant Meal Mate cracker (I have no idea of the US equivalent, but think sesame), without it being hard like a cracker.
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