The keto diet has been marketed as a quick and easy way to lose weight and get healthier. What many people do not know is that our bodies need carbs for energy we need to survive. You can get energy from plants, fats and proteins, but carbs are our bodies’ main energy source.

According to Dr. Andreas Eenfeldt in the article “A Ketogenic Diet for Beginners” on dietdoctor.com, “A keto or ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet that can help you burn fat more effectively…The ‘keto’ in a ketogenic diet comes from the fact that it allows the body to produce small fuel molecules called ‘ketones’. This is an alternative fuel source for the body, used when blood sugar (glucose) is in short supply.”

Eenfeldt said because your body is not getting enough carbs to use as energy, it begins to use fat instead, since that is what you will be eating most. He claims the body will begin to burn off fat storage more easily, because it is already getting its energy from the excess fat you’re eating, a process known as “ketosis.”

This is unhealthy for the body, because it is meant to use carbs for energy. Fruits, including bananas, have high amounts of carbs and consumption of them is limited or cut out completely on a keto diet, leading to an unbalanced and therefore unhealthy diet. We learn as children what a healthy and balanced diet consists of, and the overall theme is basically the goldilocks principle. Not too much, not too little, and the keto diet disregards this.

According to Lisa Cimperman R.D.N, in the article, “The Keto Diet is Gaining Popularity, but Is It Safe?” on healthline.com, “Once your body enters ketosis, you also begin to lose muscle, become extremely fatigued, and eventually enter starvation mode. Then it actually becomes even harder to lose weight” and, according to Francine Blinten R.D. in the same article, “It can do more harm than good. It can damage the heart, which is also a muscle.”

Feeding your muscles is more important than losing fat quickly. If you’re overweight and want to lose fat while still maintaining healthy organs, it’s better to cut your carbs to a sustainable level that is balanced with fats. While on a keto diet, many replace sugar with heavy cream, and bread with bacon. Heavy cream and bacon can damage your arteries because of cholesterol. Clogged arteries combined with the muscular deterioration of your heart may lead to heart failure. You are likely experience something called the “keto flu” if you try this diet. The “keto flu” causes symptoms such as vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, body aches and more.

Unfortunately the keto diet is getting even more popular. Some after having the Keto flu even claim it was just the body cleansing itself. If you want to lose weight and keep your organs intact, try eating Fresh fruits and vegetables paired with the amount of fats and carbs suited toward your lifestyle and how active you are is a  great way to do it. Your body will thank you if you try a healthy and sustainable diet.