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After about a week of no carbohydrates your body would enter ketosis, which uses a parallel set of metabolic processes that burn ketones rather than carbs. The

by frisco 9y ago

After about a week of no carbohydrates your body would enter ketosis, which uses a parallel set of metabolic processes that burn ketones rather than carbs. The onset of ketosis is marked by really clear flu-like symptoms. After ~48 hours those disappear and everything is ok again. Do you think that could have been what you were experiencing? Your body will fall out of ketosis very quickly as soon as you have some carbs.

mrob 9y ago
>The onset of ketosis is marked by really clear flu-like symptoms I tried a ketogenic diet once out of curiosity (confirmed ketosis with urine testing) and I did not experience this. I have read many other anecdotes of people who also did not experience it.
- rhinoceraptor 9y ago
  The flu like symptoms are mostly electrolyte imbalance in my experience. You lose a lot of water weight and salt.
  - mrob 9y ago
    Although I had not heard that reasoning before, I was told to increase water and salt consumption, which I did. Possibly this could have prevented any flu-like symptoms.
    - rhinoceraptor 9y ago
      When you deplete glycogen (you can store about 500 grams of it), you also lose 3 grams of water per gram of glycogen. So in total, you lose about 1.5 liters of water once you're fully glycogen depleted.
- frisco 9y ago
  Ok. I did experience it. It would be unsurprising if there is biological variability in this. But from the parent's description if they did experience symptoms like it, it seems like ketone flu is a highly likely explanation.
- ravenstine 9y ago
  I've experienced what's commonly called the "keto flu". Whenever I get back on a keto diet, I drink a lot of electrolytes, get plenty of vitamins, and that seems to mitigate most of the symptoms. It definitely feels like a cold or the flu when it happens, though without a fever.
nvahalik 9y ago
I'm about a week into a ketogenic diet and I am having flu-like symptoms. I woke to my sinuses being very inflamed but no amount of sudafed or benadryl seemed to make any difference. Then suddenly this afternoon I started sweating profusely and my nasal passages opened right up. It's been a real trip!

by frisco 9y ago

mrob 9y ago

>The onset of ketosis is marked by really clear flu-like symptoms I tried a ketogenic diet once out of curiosity (confirmed ketosis with urine testing) and I did not experience this. I have read many other anecdotes of people who also did not experience it.

rhinoceraptor 9y ago
The flu like symptoms are mostly electrolyte imbalance in my experience. You lose a lot of water weight and salt.
- mrob 9y ago
  Although I had not heard that reasoning before, I was told to increase water and salt consumption, which I did. Possibly this could have prevented any flu-like symptoms.
  - rhinoceraptor 9y ago
    When you deplete glycogen (you can store about 500 grams of it), you also lose 3 grams of water per gram of glycogen. So in total, you lose about 1.5 liters of water once you're fully glycogen depleted.
frisco 9y ago
Ok. I did experience it. It would be unsurprising if there is biological variability in this. But from the parent's description if they did experience symptoms like it, it seems like ketone flu is a highly likely explanation.
ravenstine 9y ago
I've experienced what's commonly called the "keto flu". Whenever I get back on a keto diet, I drink a lot of electrolytes, get plenty of vitamins, and that seems to mitigate most of the symptoms. It definitely feels like a cold or the flu when it happens, though without a fever.

nvahalik 9y ago

I'm about a week into a ketogenic diet and I am having flu-like symptoms. I woke to my sinuses being very inflamed but no amount of sudafed or benadryl seemed to make any difference. Then suddenly this afternoon I started sweating profusely and my nasal passages opened right up. It's been a real trip!