Recently, I wrote a blog of the top 10 keto myths. Once I finished the blog, I realized how much there was to say about each one! So, I decided to break each one down into its own blog. The next one on the list is that you can’t do keto long term.
Experts Who Say You Can’t Do Keto Long Term
So, to provide a balanced viewpoint, let’s take a look at the reasons health professionals give that you can’t do keto long term. One criticism is that you will suffer from vitamin deficiencies. We are going to examine this myth in an upcoming blog. Again, the standard North American diet lacks certain vitamins and nutrients as well. However, it is important to keep an eye on how you are feeling and if you feel you are lacking something, either work that food into your meal plan or take some supplements.
The next point, and one that I take very seriously, is the idea that keto can increase your cholesterol levels and cause heart disease. We did the myth around heart disease earlier in this series. Does eating more fat lead to higher “bad” cholesterol levels? It’s something to keep an eye on.
The Excuses to Not Do Keto Long Term
One of the reasons I hear not to do keto long term is that it is a restrictive diet and people won’t follow it. Okay, well to me that’s not a real reason. If you feel the benefits of keto, and you appreciate the health advantages, you will keep on it. In our experience, it gets easier the longer you are on it. People also don’t follow the Canadian or American Food Guides because they “restrict” certain foods, so this one is a no-go for me.
The next one makes me giggle. The nutritional experts list a decrease in athletic abilities if you are on keto. Now, unless you are a professional athlete, this is not likely to become an issue. When I weighed 250 pounds, the possibility of not having peaks of energy when I went for a run or worked out was not a primary concern. If you work out for a living, this might be something you want to discuss and consider. For most of us, it’s not a problem.
Experts Who Say you Can Do Keto Long Term
There is some research that shows that keto can be helpful for certain conditions. Diabetes (particularly Type 2), Alzheimer’s, and epilepsy can at least partially be controlled through a keto lifestyle. There is some growing evidence that it may be helpful in preventing certain cancers as well. In one study I found that examined people who were obese on the keto diet for 24 weeks. They considered this a long term study. It was found that the benefits of keto definitely outweigh any potential risks and deemed keto as safe.
Obesity is one of the most deadly health issues we have in North America. The risks that come with being obese are numerous and all too common. Many of the risks include the very things keto is seen as protecting against – Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. In North America, we have an obesity rate of 30-36% of the adult population. That means ⅓ of our population is at higher risk of these health concerns.
A Final Look at the Myth
The truth is, there aren’t a lot of studies done on the health benefits and risks of keto long term. What we have is individual experiences. We have been doing keto for two years now, and we are still loving it. I love the benefits and how we feel. I get annual checkups and blood work done, and so far everything is good. There are people who have been doing keto for decades to combat their health conditions, and you can find their stories online.
So, while we can’t completely debunk this myth for everyone, we can say that keto is an individual way of life. If it’s working for you, keep doing it. Keep up-to-date with your annual visits to your doctor and keep an eye on your blood work. If you feel the risks are too much long term, then stop keto, or don’t start it in the first place. The research is inconclusive, so it’s truly up to you.
Wendy
