Is the Ketogenic Diet safe for teens?

Why the keto diet is not suitable for teens?

A keto diet is not prescribed in teens because it significantly restricts carbs. Teens need food to be physically and mentally active. Teens who have a safe, nutritious diet will usually consume about 130 g carbohydrates a day (approximately 45-65% of their calories). While their keto diet is around 20-30 g carbohydrates a day. Feeds rich in carbohydrates known as fiber tend to promote complete relaxation and help to maintain weight or weight loss. Fiber present in vegetables, berries and whole grains helps keep blood sugar stable and also reduces constipation.

"Carbohydrates provide energy and important nutrients for us," Fossier says. "To grow and develop, to do homework, read books, and play, teens need carbohydrates."  

Keto diet side effects for teens   

If the body undergoes ketosis, teens (and adults) can experience some initial side effects, including:

• Stressing 
• Diarrhea  
• Tiredness  
• Dizziness  
• Nausea 
• Vomiting

"Side effects exist when the body actually is thirsty," Fossier says. Furthermore, the keto diet can impair attention and concentrate. It can create dietary deficiencies and result in high cholesterol and triglycerides, poor bones and kidney stones.

Keto diet and epileptic diagnosis   

The Keto diet was first formulated for epilepsy in the 1920s. For certain cases, currently, physicians can prescribe a ketogenic diet to better control epileptic, spasmodic and other disease symptoms for infants. The diet impacts other diseases such as ALS and Parkinson's disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes usually in adults.

The doctor checks for the blood tests of the patient and takes other things into account before starting the diet. The product forms and amounts are carefully chosen and tracked. Patients meet with a nutritionist in close collaboration. Not all seizure disease patients are good candidates in the ketogenic diet. Consult first with a practitioner for health benefits options for weight loss rather than for teens.   

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