Will I have to go through keto flu AGAIN?

(Em) #1

I started Keto August 20. No cheating. No sugars. Strict. Felt nauseous for the past 2 weeks. Went through horrible keto flu even though I was upping salt intake, water, magnesium & potassium. Then I started to feel better but came down with a cold. To try and nip it in the bud I took Sambu lozenges (elderberry zinc) thinking they were without sugar (and it worked). I swore I looked at package for ingredients. And then looked again today when my blood glucose was HIGH. sure enough cane sugar! How did I miss that! So my question did it screw me up and am I back at ground zero and have to go through the Keto flu bagain?!

(TJ Borden) #2

Probably not, but even if you do, it will be shorter and milder.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #3

The keto “flu” is not a disease, it is a sign that there’s not enough sodium in your body. Without all those carbs in our diet, our kidneys excrete sodium at a higher rate, so we have to work a bit to keep our salt intake up. Try to get around 2-1/2 tsp. of salt a day—but that includes the salt already in your food, so it’s not quite the challenge it may seem. The U.S. daily recommendation for salt is woefully inadequate.

If you keep your salt intake up, you will never have to experience the keto flu. I was fortunate to hear Dr. Phinney talk about this in a lecture on YouTube before I went keto, so I was forewarned. I still find, however, that if I forget about salt for a day or two, I start getting a migraine—but a little bit of salt stops it in its tracks!

(Running from stupidity) #4

Hey, can we call it “carb withdrawal” instead? Sounds better and it more accurate.

(I made this into a macro, and then had to open the program as I forgot how to trigger it…) :roll_eyes:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

You could, but “carb withdrawal,” while catchy, isn’t really any more accurate than “keto flu.” Technically, what is happening is a blood sodium deficiency, or in medical jargon, “hyponatremia.”

(TJ Borden) #6

Can’t you just let @juice have his moment? You have to go ruin it with facts and science… :joy:

#7

I’m pretty sure I was using brain cells for energy during my adaptation. My symptoms were more cognitive than flu like.

(Running from stupidity) #8

Well … it’s got nothing to do with the flu, and withdrawing from carbs is what’s driving it. So I’d suggest it’s quite a lot more accurate, and describes it better and more positively.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

@juice Since you’re the salt of the earth, I’m not going to argue with you. :grin:

(Running from stupidity) #10

I, in turn, will not argue with you![1]

[1] probably. For a bit :slight_smile: