The mysterious “keto flu”

It has not – as far as I can tell – been scientifically described. But a lot of people who cut back on carbs find themselves suffering from what the Internet calls “keto flu.” Also known as “induction flu,” this is a temporary condition that occurs for many people at the earliest stages of transitioning to a low-carb diet.

You may find yourself feeling listless, achy, stupid (the so-called “brain fog”), sniffly and tired. Calling it the “flu” is needlessly dramatic; the symptoms are nowhere near as bad as what happens when you actually come down with influenza. For most people, it’s more like having a mild to moderately severe cold, but without the congestion or fever.

According to the low-carb community this condition happens as your body is transitioning from burning carbs to burning fat. The transition is difficult for your body, which suffers a sort of semi-breakdown in systems during the transitional stage.

I have to question that opinion, which is typically presented with a lot of science-sounding terms like “glycolysis” and “beta-oxidation,” but without any scientific citations. The thing is, every diet and weight loss method that exists will cause your body to burn fat. That is how the fat goes away; your body burns it. If that is the case, then why do people only suffer from this mysterious “keto flu” malady on low-carb diets?

I’m not saying it’s wrong. I’m just saying that, in the absence of any actual clinical research, I question the conventional wisdom.

But what I cannot dispute is that I have been feeling crappy for the last week or so, but the standard cures for “keto flu” have helped a lot. Whether or not people are attributing it to the right causes, “keto flu” is definitely a real condition. Luckily it is only temporary, lasting no more than a week or two for most people.

The best approach is to take it easy on yourself, just as you would if you were sick. Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, eat lots of healthy food and drink some chicken broth. (Seriously, chicken broth really helps. Amino acids blah blah pseudoscience whatever.)

Image courtesy of Flickr/phil.lees