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Kaylin Weathers

ENG 112- Argument Essay

Mrs. Carroll

12 April 2020

The Effects of the Keto diet on Individuals

As most people know, the Keto diet is a very popular diet mainly used to lose weight

extremely fast and to treat certain medical related issues. It is important that individuals who are

on this diet, or plan to be, understand both the benefits and drawbacks. What people don’t realize

is that while the Keto diet has its own obvious benefits, there are also drawbacks of being on this

diet. The drawbacks of being on the Keto diet most certainly outweigh the benefits.

Before diving into the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet, it should be known how

long the Keto diet has been around where it actually derived from. The first use of the Keto diet

was actually in the 1900s when “doctors used the keto diet to control seizures in patients with

epilepsy” (DietDoc). Dr. Russell Wilder at the Mayo Clinic began the keto diet history in 1923.

When people hear that the diet was originally created medically as a way of controlling seizures,

they probably automatically wonder how it turned into such a huge weight loss mechanism.

After so many years of people trying this diet, they have learned that “by following the

traditional keto diet and its modified diet plans, patients begin to burn stored fat instead of stored

carbohydrates and experience increased weight loss.” (DietDoc) Of course this sounds like a

great idea for people who are looking for a quick and easy way to lose a significant amount of

weight, but every individual who is contemplating whether or not to begin the keto diet should
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most certainly understand that there are drawbacks to everything that may sound like a good

idea.

Researchers have discovered a small range of benefits of the Keto diet. According to a

study at Yale University, “the Keto diet could, over limited periods of time, improve human

health by lowering diabetes risk and inflammation.” Individuals who have a family history of

diabetes may support the Keto diet and even consider trying it for this reason; to prevent this

horrific disease. In addition to lowering the risk for diabetes and inflammation, the Keto diet is

also known for reducing seizures in epileptic children. “The diet was originally developed in the

early 1920s by a Mayo Clinic doctor, Russell Wilder, as a a way to reduce seizures in epileptic

children, which it did, sometimes more effectively than medication.” (Yale University) This

could be very beneficial to parents of epileptic children who are unable to find another cure to

reducing seizures in their children. Lastly, the most obvious, yet unnecessary reason people try

the Keto diet is for weight loss. “Do you want to look good, feel good, and enjoy a long life in

which you maintain a spry body and a high functioning brain? Of course you do! Try Keto or

modified keto eating long term, and just say no to processed carbs.” (Kane) Because the Keto

diet is a low-carb diet, it makes it easy for individuals to lose weight and the results show up very

quickly. Most people have a higher self-esteem and more confidence when their bodies look

good. Although the Keto diet is a fast way to lose weight, it most certainly isn’t the healthiest

choice.

When considering going on a diet, it is important to be aware of all of the downsides and

risks it comes with. According to Harvard Health Publications, the main risks associated with the

Keto diet include: nutrient deficiency, liver problems, kidney problems, constipation, fuzzy
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thinking, and mood swings. These potential risks may be why some people choose not to “go

keto” and are against the Keto diet. Another highly noticeable downside to this diet is how strict

it is. “Because the diet has such a high fat requirement, followers must eat fat at each meal. In a

daily 2,000-calorie diet, that might look like 165 grams of fat, 40 grams of carbs, and 75 grams

of protein.” (Harvard) People who are picky eaters may have a hard time adjusting to this diet or

feel like they are being controlled. In addition to this diet being so strict, causing people not to

last too long on this diet, most people who decide to quit will immediately crave the foods they

weren’t allowed to eat while being on the diet. This can result in all of that time spent trying to

eat with restrictions, to be wasted. It is very easy to gain all of the weight back that was lost and

to kick the body back out of “ketosis”.

In addition to the few well-known benefits and the downsides of the Keto diet, there is

also a side-effect to this diet known as the “Keto flu”. “The so-called keto flu is a group of

symptoms that may appear two to seven days after starting a ketogenic diet.” (Campos, Marcelo)

A few of these symptoms include: “headache, foggy brain, fatigue, irritability, nausea, difficulty

sleeping, and constipation”. (Campos) If someone believes that they are experiencing the keto

flu, they should take multiple steps in order to get their bodies feeling normal again. A few tips

provided by Harvard Health and Medical School include: drinking plenty of water, eating more

often and making sure you have plenty of colored vegetables, and considering easing into the

new diet more slowly. Obviously the keto flu is a major downside, but if someone is determined

enough to lose weight or they are medically recommended to be on the diet, it could be helpful.

Although the Keto diet does cause people to lose a significant amount of weight

extremely fast, there are many other safer diets to try before going keto. Going Keto may be
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helpful for patients who were medically recommended to try the diet, but wanting to lose weight

should not be a primary reason for trying the Keto diet. It is important that individuals on this

diet have conducted enough research and are using this diet for the right reasons. People are

responsible for what goes in their bodies and how they choose to stay healthy.

Works Cited

Campos, Marcelo. “What Is Keto Flu?” ​Harvard Health Blog​, 18 Oct. 2018,

www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-keto-flu-2018101815052.

"Debunking the Keto Diet: Why the Crazy-Popular Diet Doesn’t Work." Chatelaine (Online),

Aug 09, 2019. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/22

71737187?accountid=10163​.

Doc, Diet. “The Origin & History of the Keto Diet.” ​Diet Doc​, 4 Feb. 2020,

www.dietdoc.com/diet-tips/ketogenic-diet-origin/.

Kane, Emily A.,N.D.L.Ac. "Is the Keto Diet Right for You?"​ Better Nutrition​, vol. 81,

no. 7, 2019, pp. 22-23​. ProQuest​,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/235429242

7?accountid=10163​.

"Should You Try the Keto Diet?"​ Harvard Health Publications.Harvard Health Letter.​,
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09, 2018​. ProQuest​,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/211688800

9?accountid=10163​.

"Yale University; Keto Diet Works Best in Small Doses, Yale Researchers Find." Obesity, Fitness &

Wellness Week, Feb 15, 2020, pp. 50. ProQuest,

https://login.proxy039.nclive.org/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/235373230

0?accountid=10163​.