Keto’s dark side: The health risks behind rapid weight loss

Few diets have become as alluring in recent years as the ketogenic diet. The principle is simple: eat fewer carbohydrates, consume more fat and protein and, in many cases, watch the weight fall off quickly, at least at first. For many people, it sounds like a straightforward solution in a confusing world of nutrition. But make no mistake: Behind that promise lies an extreme diet that may carry a significant health cost. “In the classic, traditional ketogenic diet, people eat mainly fat and protein and sharply reduce their carbohydrate intake,” explains Dr. Sigal Frishman, head of Nutrition Department at Rabin Medical Center (Beilinson) and chief dietitian of Clalit Health Services’ hospital division. “The body normally uses glucose as its main source of energy. But when people do not consume enough carbohydrates, the body begins breaking down fat, producing ketone bodies in the process.