The Ketogenic Diet has taken the health world by storm, just like the Atkins Diet did years ago. It consists of a very low carb diet in an effort to put the body into ketosis where fat is burned for weight loss (and other benefits). It was originally and is still used for patients with seizures and brain cancer.
I’ve had clients with fabulous success with the Keto Diet. While it’s definitely not for everyone, it can be a very valuable way to lose weight, reduce blood pressure, help balance hormones, etc. for some people. However, there are some very common and sometimes inevitable issues that come with the Keto Diet that need to be addressed for maintaining optimum health.
Avoiding Toxic Foods/Ingredients
When Keto diet consists of “sugar-free” processed foods filled with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose, this is anything but a healthy diet. These ingredients are linked to brain tumors, seizures, migraines, bowel disease, and more.
There is no health outside of real, whole foods. That can still be achieved with the Keto diet. Check out Maria Emmerich’s resources and books for recipes and tips on healthy food choices for the Keto diet.
Addressing Constipation
Constipation is the main problem with the Keto diet. And it is one of the worst things we can allow to continue daily with our health. This is the crucial way our body eliminates toxins and excess hormones. If we do not eliminate this waste efficiently, it gets reabsorbed back into our bloodstream which overloads our body with toxins and hormones quickly.
Here are some tips for addressing constipation:
Moderate Dairy
Most people resort to extensive amounts of (pasteurized) dairy and meat with few vegetables. The key here is obviously balance. If dairy is tolerated, it should be consumed in moderation.
Eat Leafy Greens
Leafy greens should be consumed daily for helping keep bowels moving (as well as the other many health benefits of leafy greens).
Supplements
Supplemental digestive enzymes are crucial for many reasons:
To assist in digesting the increased amount of fats and protein
To ensure absorption of nutrients
To reduce risk of circulating food proteins that cause inflammation
Click here to read my Recommended Supplements for some recommended digestive enzyme supplements.
Probiotics are an essential part of any healthy lifestyle, especially Keto. There is no health outside of a healthy gut, because as Hippocrates said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Probiotics help provide a healthy gut that can break down foods properly and help keep bowels moving efficiently through the intestinal system.
Click here for my preferred probiotics.
Some find that they need to take double the dosage of probiotics and/or digestive enzymes in order to move bowels at least once daily, so don’t be afraid to increase if necessary.
Drink more water!
It may go without saying, but adequate water intake is crucial. Be sure water is not chlorinated or fluoridated!
To really optimize health and bowel health, start each day with water that includes a few drops of Lemon Vitality oil. Lemon Vitality oil offers advantages over lemon juice because it has zero carbs, supports liver detoxification, gut and gallbladder health, and makes water taste better!
Use Natural Laxatives
Miralax and Metamucil have toxic ingredients that are best avoided entirely. Instead, opt for natural laxatives that will provide the body with nutrients and help bowels move better.
Magnesium
High amounts of an isolated magnesium supplement work great for helping move bowels and give the body this most-needed nutrient. Most people are deficient in magnesium anyway. Click here to read my preferred magnesium supplements and increase amount as needed until the desired effect is achieved.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C flush is another way to flood the body with nutrients while cleansing the bowels. Click here to read about doing a Vitamin C flush.
I hope these tips help on your journey to good health!
Blessings,
~Sara Jo Poff
Natural Health Practitioner