We've all heard the warning. "Consult your physician before beginning any diet or exercise program." But, most of the population continues right along with their new diet without even giving it a second thought.
Most of the time, things turn out ok. But in some instances, not consulting your doctor or having lab tests done can be a dangerous decision.
One of the most popular diets in recent years has been the keto diet. It would be best to get these keto diet blood tests done before you start and during the diet to ensure you remain healthy while getting the weight loss results you want.
In this article, we'll discuss the different keto diet blood tests available to you. We'll also talk about the benefits of taking a keto diet test and much more.
So read on! We've got a lot to cover.
What Are the Deficiencies That Occur With a Keto Diet?
The keto diet revolves around foods that are high in fat and high in protein. The diet also limits your intake of processed carbs. You can eat vegetables, but anything like bread, rice, grains, etc., is extremely limited on the keto diet.
Because of the nature of the diet, it can be a challenge to get all of the nutrients your body requires daily. The nutrients that keto users most commonly become deficient in are a group of nutrients known as "micronutrients."
Examples of the micronutrients you need to monitor for deficiencies while on the keto diet are selenium, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins B and C.
Another essential nutrient that you may be lacking while on keto is calcium. We all know how vital calcium can be for our bones and teeth. But, it provides several other functions as well.
Calcium is also important when it comes to the body's muscle and nerve function. It's also vital in keeping our blood vessels healthy.
The high-fat foods included in the keto diet create an acidic environment in the body. Calcium within your body is depleted to combat this highly acidic environment and neutralize your body's pH level. As a result, calcium tends to be lost through your urine, and bone density decreases.
Following a ketogenic diet can also decrease the amount of iron in your system. This happens even though keto dieters usually eat high quantities of meat. Losing iron in your system could result in a loss of energy and lower red blood cell production.
The severity of the symptoms can vary, but it can be very painful and uncomfortable in extreme cases.
The reduction of iron while on the keto diet results from the amount of high-fat foods recommended. Eating a lot of foods that are high in fat can reduce your body's ability to absorb iron. Signs of an iron deficiency are loss of energy and difficulty breathing.
Risk Factors for Keto Diet Deficiencies
There are several risk factors that you need to watch out for when starting the keto diet. Although many people have seen benefits from this type of diet, it can be a drastic change in your body.
One of the first things to watch out for is the keto flu. As a person's body switches from normal digestion to a state of ketosis, they can become sick. During this transition stage, it's common for people to experience flu-like symptoms.
The severity of the symptoms can vary, but in extreme cases, it can be very painful and uncomfortable.
The diet may also put stress on your kidneys and digestive system. Switching to a ketogenic diet can even alter the healthy bacteria found in your gut.
Switching to a keto lifestyle can also decrease your bone health, cause nutrient deficiencies, and put you at increased risk for chronic diseases. It could even put you at a higher risk of early death.
Signs and Symptoms of Keto Diet Deficiencies
The key to stopping keto diet deficiencies from becoming major health problems is to catch them early on. The best way to do that is by recognizing the signs and symptoms of these deficiencies.
As sodium, potassium, and water leave your body as it switches to a state of ketosis, causing the keto flu, which can deplete the following vitamins and minerals:
- Selenium
- Magnesium
- B Vitamins
- Phosphorous
- Vitamin C
The long-term effects of the keto diet can be much more serious. Dieters who are following a keto lifestyle may experience kidney stones. They can also experience a condition known as fatty liver. A prolonged keto diet can also lead to low levels of protein in the blood.
Tests to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Keto Diet Deficiencies
Keto diets aren't all bad. They can be an excellent option for people with specific diseases and disorders. Whatever your reason for trying a keto diet, you need to make sure you're doing it right.
Here are the keto diet blood tests you should consider.
1. Monitor Your Blood Sugar
There is evidence showing that following a keto diet may affect your body's natural insulin response. As a result, it could affect your body's glucose levels.
A keto diet is a popular recommendation for people with diabetes, so you may already monitor your blood sugar levels. If not, it's a good idea to monitor these numbers regularly.
2. Cholesterol Levels
Eating a diet that's high in fat can cause a variety of health problems. These problems aren't easy to see on the surface, so monitoring cholesterol levels is important. This is the best way of catching these problems before they grow into something serious.
Your level of LDL cholesterol is what you need to pay attention to. This is what's considered bad cholesterol. These levels can rise if the fats you consume are unhealthy, saturated fats.
If you're following the keto diet correctly, you should be getting your fats from healthy sources like avocados, olive oil, fish, and nuts.
3. Monitor Thyroid Hormones
Your thyroid hormone levels are important because they are linked to several essential bodily functions. They can affect things such as fertility, heart rate, and metabolism.
If your thyroid is already functioning normally, then keto may not cause any issues. However, if your thyroid hormone levels are already low, eating a low-carb diet can cause them to drop even lower.
In order to properly monitor your micronutrients and screen for keto diet deficiencies, some other lab tests you may want to consider are:
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (related to calcium and kidney and liver health)
- Urinalysis (related to kidney health, ketones, and body pH levels)
- Complete Blood Count (related to iron and red blood cell production)
These lab tests are available through Ulta Lab Tests and can give you a more in-depth look at how your body is performing during keto.
FAQs About Keto Diet Deficiencies
Keto is one of the most popular diets in America right now. As a result, people tend to have many questions about what is and isn't ok on the keto diet. They also have questions about keto diet blood tests.
Here are some of the most popular questions.
Q: What Deficiencies Does Keto Cause?
The most common deficiencies caused by a keto diet are deficiencies in micronutrients. These include selenium, magnesium, phosphorous, vitamin B, and vitamin C.
Q: Can Keto Cause Immune Deficiency?
Studies show that a ketogenic diet can affect the levels of "good" and "bad" bacteria in your body's GI tract. Your GI tract acts as the "security guard" of your immune system. If these bacteria levels are out of balance, it could affect your gut-brain function, your immune system and even affect your risk of chronic illness.
Q: When Should Ketones Be Monitored?
Your doctor will probably tell you to monitor your ketones if your blood sugar reaches high levels. The threshold is generally 250 mg/dl or higher for two days in a row.
Q: When Is the Best Time to Test Ketones in Urine
The best times to monitor ketone levels in your urine are early in the morning and late in the evening. If you aren't able to monitor your ketones early in the morning, it's suggested that you wait several hours after eating dinner before getting an evening reading.
Benefits of Keto Diet Deficiency Lab Testing with Ulta Lab Tests
Ulta Lab Tests offers highly accurate and reliable tests so you can make informed decisions about your health. Here are a few great things to love about your keto diet lab tests from Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Order your keto lab tests today, and your results will be provided to you securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests.
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
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