Can we please start calling it 'carb withdrawal' and retire the current term?

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #1

Please! I am so tired of the misleading phrase ‘keto flu’ primarily because it implies that all the negative symptoms experienced by many (but not all!) are caused by keto. They are NOT caused by keto. They are caused by carb withdrawal.

Keto is a perfectly natural and healthy metabolic state. 99% of the evolution of the human species was spent in the metabolic state of keto. It is how we evolved to survive, live and thrive. High carb intake/utilization is the unnatural and unhealthy metabolic state! It was a HUGE mistake, made only moments ago in evolutionary time. That mistake has led to so many metabolic problems it would be difficult to list them all.

When a heroin addict stops shooting up and experiences terrible physical cravings for heroin and all sorts of physical symptoms we don’t call it ‘dope-free flu’. We call it what it is: heroin withdrawal. Let’s start doing the same for carbs. Stop blaming keto. It gives it a bad rep. We know better.

PS: No, this is not ‘Mike’s second rant’! Maybe ‘rantlet’. :wink:

(Scott) #2

I never had flu, I felt maybe a bit off but I have no memory of it being horrible. But if we call it Carb Withdrawal from here on out then you will forever be tormented by needing to correct each newbie daily. It might be easier to just let each decide. It very similar to “cheat” vs “off plan”

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #3

My hope is that if we start calling it something other than kf, the new term might spread. This is the major keto forum, after all. Then all the pop press and newbies might catch on. In the meantime, I know the newbies are probably going to call it kf, but the rest of us should not follow their lead! Let’s call it what we know it is. Or something equivalent.

As for cheat/off plan: that doesn’t bother me simply because it does not implicate keto as something negative. Quite the opposite. Falling off, or off the horse, are in the same category.

(Susan) #4

I will do this from now on, carb and sugar withdrawal though, I think we need to mention both! It is a good idea, though, I agree.

(Scott) #5

Now you are beating a horse with keto, that’s just going to far:laughing:

I think Carb Withdrawal also explains what is happening. I can see a newbie wondering if they will be so sick they can’t function with “the flu” .

(Deborah ) #6

I totally agree. “Keto flu” sounds like an illness. I’ve tried hard to remember to always use the term “carb withdrawal”.

I was lucky when I started keto; I only had a couple of days of very mild nausea, and some salt took care of it for the most part.

(traci simpson) #7

Just like when you try and kick your caffeine addition - its caffeine withdrawal! so carb withdrawal it is!

#8

Let’s call insulin resistance “carb intolerance” while we’re at it. It’s already out therein the ketosphere, but we never use it.

#9

I agree wholeheartedly. It is absolutely carb/sugar withdrawal and it would be helpful to start using that terminology to shift focus to the real culprit.

(Karen) #10

Amen. Sounds like calling it “keto flu” is a vegan conspiracy… Dit dit da

(hottie turned hag) #11

Ergh I always thought the term “keto flu” is not only stupid but inaccurate, it is NOT a communicable illness (influenza) and irks the s**t out of me.

I’m all for saying “carb withdrawal” vs “keto flu” but my understanding of that experience (which I didn’t have, at all; I felt only better, never ill, when I started but I do consume much salt and water so never dehydrated nor got into any electrolyte imbalance) is that it’s from dehydration/electrolyte imbalance not the absence of carbs per se, so carb withdrawal is a misnomer, no?

Why not call it what it is, “a period of electrolyte imbalance”. I guess a catchier term is needed…

(Little Miss Scare-All) #12

I thought we were at least on the 10th by now. :grin:

(Susan) #13

Hehehe =).

(Michael - When reality fails to meet expectations, the problem is not reality.) #14

I will advise, so’s there no doubt. :slightly_smiling_face:

(Susan) #15

You have a lot of useful information you bring to us all, Michael, we are just teasing. You are very helpful and knowledgeable =).

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #16

Actually, the better term is “sodium deficiency.” The symptoms known as “keto flu” are not symptoms of lack of carbohydrate—there aren’t any—they are symptoms of lack of sodium. Anyone who keeps their salt intake up will not suffer those symptoms, no matter how drastically they reduce their carbohydrate intake.

Wait—there is one symptom of lack of carbohydrate, and that is the period of lessened muscular performance we call the fat- (or keto-) adaptation phase. That is, indeed, the result of cutting back on carbohydrate, and is therefore the proper place to use the term.

I do like the term “carb withdrawal,” because it emphasises that carbohydrate is a drug.

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #17

I prefer “sugar withdrawal”. Carbs in fact do not need to be bad at all (vegetables etc). IMHO sugars is the culprit. And it is better marketing: many people associate carbs with “good”, but everybody knows sugars are bad.

(squirrel-kissing paper tamer) #18

Okay, then we should also abolish “stomach flu” because it’s a misnomer as well. Everyone knows what ‘keto flu’ represents and it’s a commonly used phrase. Is it technically incorrect? Yes. If someone comes along asking for help using it do I plan to critique their verbiage? No.

Until there is an actual medical phrase used to encompass the time where a person feels physical ailments during their transition from carbs for fuel to fat for fuel I’m personally willing to accept ‘keto flu’.

#19

I experienced hypoglycemic-like symptoms (extreme brain fog, shakes, and inconsolable crying) for a couple of days even though blood glucose measured normal. Similar problem with trying a “slow carb” diet. Once the ketones started flowing at a rate to compensate for the lower glucose though, everything felt better.

(KCKO, KCFO 🥥) #20

I dislike keto flu and never had it since I was already eating less carbs than the SAD. But at a certain point, I did find I needed electrolyte supplementation from time to time.

I think of it as carb flu, since carb is the bad stuff not keto anyway. It also makes keto sound more innocent, LOL.