Hyderabad is flirting with danger

Consuming high-fat ketogenic foods as a replacement to regular carbo-heavy meals to cut weight is the new fad. This is not just in Hyderabad or in India, but across the world. Unfortunately, this type of un-regulated dietary habits is leading to numerous health hazards. And social media too is abuzz with instances related to the negative impacts of such not-so-recommended food habits.

According to the patient-profiling and assessment done by the team of experts at DocOnline, an online doctor consultation platform, there are more men than women who are taking up keto-type dietary habits. And over 90% of men and women who randomly stop eating carbohydrates do so without any medical/doctor consultation. These people do not know if their body-type can sustain radical dietary regimen.

Commenting on the dietary practices, Dr PrasoonaKatreddy, Consultant Physician, DocOnline said, “Transitioning from burning carbs to burning fat takes about two weeks, so at the start of practicing keto or related diets, the body is not in ketosis yet. That means that the human body is still using stored glucose for fuel rather than ketones, and this is not a healthy sign at all! And because carbohydrate intake is restricted, the amount of stored glucose (or energy) is limited, which can cause fatigue soon.”

Some people experience symptoms such as brain fog, headaches, chills, and a sore throat during this transition. These symptoms are collectively referred to as “the keto flu", and a large section of people who practice these high-fat diets are not aware of the ill-effects of the risks involved in practicing unregulated dietary habits.

Adding further on the necessary steps to be taken, Dr Syed Abrar Kareem, who is also the consultant physician for the online platform said, “There are healthy ways to cut weight! Regular walking/jogging is the simplest and most recommended way to keep weight under check. As a Doctor, I would recommend those wanting to cut weight to lead an active and not a sedentary lifestyle; and this will do a lot of good in the long run. Unregulated dietary practices are too risky to follow.”