Top three keto diet mistakes (2024)

The ketogenic diet, keto, is a low-carb, high-fat diet focused on lowering your body’s insulin levels and relying on ketones, chemicals made in your liver that break down fat, to fuel the body. The diet quickly gained popularity, but its quick rise has made room for dieters to make keto mistakes. Stephen Riggs, MD, a family medicine provider atMercyOne Kimball Family Medicine and Pediatrics Care, shares three tips that will help you plan for a successful keto diet.

What is the keto diet?

A keto diet focuses on eliminating foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugars. A successful keto diet includes meats, leafy greens, nuts and seeds and foods high in both unsaturated and saturated fat.

Keto mistakes to avoid

Inadequate mineral replacement - Insulin causes your kidneys to retain salt and water. When a person follows the keto diet, the insulin level should drop which causes the kidney to naturally release water and minerals, especially sodium, potassium and magnesium. This can lead to the “keto flu” where you may feel fatigued and experience headaches and upset stomach.

“The antidote is to drink plenty of water and get more salt,” Dr. Riggs says. “It may seem counterintuitive, but on the keto diet, you actually need more salt!”

Therefore, salt your food liberally. If experiencing keto flu, eat a cup of broth or bullion once or twice a day. Look at this recipe for a healthy broth option.

Not watching your carb intake - Sugar and refined carbs are in many foods. You should be aiming to eliminate these from your keto diet.

“Try to keep your net carb content under 20 grams/day or total carbs under 30 grams,” Dr Riggs says.

Keep close track of your sugar and carb intake by reading nutrition labels. The nutrition label on food packaging will tell you how many grams of carbohydrates and sugar is in a serving size. If the food doesn’t have a nutrition label, look up the content of the food on the internet. Also, consider planning out your nutritional diet and meal prepping.

Keto Bars and “Fat Bombs” - With a rise in popularity, keto products are trying to meet the high demand. But not every keto product is healthy for you or good for your diet. It can be tempting to replace your cakes and cookies with sweet keto bars. However, the bars are loaded with sugar alcohol.

Sugar alcohol is an artificial carbohydrate used to sweeten foods. They have a lower calorie count than traditional sugar. They can be a source of empty calories in your keto diet. Keep a look out for ingredients titled erythritol, maltitol, isomalt, mannitol and sorbitol.

“They are just as nutrient empty as any other processed food,” Dr. Riggs says. “They keep your sweet tooth alive which is something you want to kill!”

Top three keto diet mistakes (2024)

FAQs

What are big mistakes on keto? ›

Not watching your carb intake - Sugar and refined carbs are in many foods. You should be aiming to eliminate these from your keto diet. “Try to keep your net carb content under 20 grams/day or total carbs under 30 grams,” Dr Riggs says. Keep close track of your sugar and carb intake by reading nutrition labels.

What is the number one staple on a keto diet? ›

Meat and poultry are considered staple foods on the keto diet. Fresh meat and poultry contain no carbs and are rich in B vitamins and several important minerals. They're also a great source of high quality protein, which may help preserve muscle mass during a very low carb diet ( 18 , 19 , 20).

What are the worse foods on keto diet? ›

Starchy vegetables contain more digestible carbohydrates than fiber and should be limited when you're on the ketogenic diet. These include corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes and beets. Limit high-sugar fruits too, which spike your blood sugar more quickly than berries and have more carbohydrates.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What is the hardest week of keto? ›

1.The First 10 Days May Be The Toughest

Many people starting off keto will go through this and it's often referred to as the “Keto Flu”. It's caused by your body adjusting to burning fat for energy instead of carbs and it can make you feel weak and lethargic.

What vegetables can you not eat on keto? ›

Vegetables to avoid in a keto diet
VegetableCarbs per 100 g
sweet potatoes16.82 g
beets9.56 g
parsnips16.47 g
peas14.45 g
3 more rows
Apr 28, 2021

What is the most filling food on keto? ›

13 of the best keto foods that keep you full
  • Mushrooms are a very filling vegetable. ...
  • Sauerkraut is rich in filling fiber. ...
  • Coconut yogurt can promote satiation. ...
  • Green pesto has an amazing fiber content. ...
  • Sardines are incredibly healthy. ...
  • Add eggs to your diet . ...
  • Make sure you are consuming full-fat dairy.
Oct 9, 2018

What are the top 5 keto foods? ›

These are the top 10 keto foods you should include if you're on...
  • The top 10 keto foods you should eat regularly if you're on the keto diet. ...
  • Salmon. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Cauliflower. ...
  • Greens. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Olive oil.

What food is not allowed in keto? ›

10 Foods You Can't Eat on the Keto Diet & Their Substitutes
  • Grains and Starches. ...
  • Sugary Foods and Sweets. ...
  • High-Carb Fruits. ...
  • Starchy Vegetables. ...
  • Legumes and Beans. ...
  • Processed Foods with Hidden Carbs. ...
  • Alcohol and co*cktails. ...
  • High-Carb Sauces and Condiments.

What foods are surprisingly not keto? ›

Processed Foods

Chips, crackers, cookies and snack foods are all off-limits on the keto diet. Low in fiber and high in carbs, these items do not support the goal of keto eating, aka reducing carbs enough to stay in ketosis and burn stored fat. Try one of these tasty keto snacks, instead!

What fruit can I eat on keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Can I eat popcorn on keto? ›

Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.

What junk food is keto-friendly? ›

Here are 9 fast-food options that you can enjoy on a ketogenic diet.
  • Bunless Burgers. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Low-Carb Burrito Bowls. ...
  • Egg-Based Breakfasts. ...
  • Bunless Chicken Sandwich. ...
  • Low-Carb Salads. ...
  • Keto-Friendly Beverages. ...
  • Lettuce-Wrapped Burgers. ...
  • “Unwiches”
May 29, 2018

What foods are 100% carb free? ›

So eat your steaks, bake that chicken, and stay full with these high-protein, zero carb foods.
  • Beef. Any beef you want is up for grabs! ...
  • Chicken. Chicken is a lean meat that is packed with protein. ...
  • Lamb. ...
  • Pork. ...
  • Salmon. ...
  • Tilapia. ...
  • Tuna. ...
  • Catfish.
Jun 20, 2024

What are some negatives of keto? ›

The keto diet could cause low blood pressure, kidney stones, constipation, nutrient deficiencies and an increased risk of heart disease. Strict diets like keto could also cause social isolation or disordered eating. Keto is not safe for those with any conditions involving their pancreas, liver, thyroid or gallbladder.

What is the hardest thing about keto? ›

Since the keto diet restricts carbs, it can be difficult to meet your daily fiber needs. Some of the richest sources of fiber, such as high carb fruits, starchy vegetables, whole grains, and beans, are eliminated on the diet because they provide too many carbs.

What happens if you eat too many carbs during keto? ›

The bottom line. You should avoid cheat meals and days on the keto diet. Consuming too many carbs can kick your body out of ketosis — and it takes several days to 1 week to get back into it. In the meantime, your weight loss may be disrupted.

What can kick you out of ketosis? ›

Foods that can disrupt ketosis pretty quickly include:
  • Grains.
  • Sugar and sweetened beverages.
  • Too much fruit.
  • Processed meats (these often have hidden sugars)
  • Fat-free and low-fat dairy (too much lactose, which is a dairy sugar)
  • Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, and some winter squash.

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