Whether you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you might be wondering what kind of diet will keep you and your baby safe and healthy while controlling how much weight you put on.
There are many diets out there, and the Keto diet is one that is becoming more and more popular.
What about the Ketogenic diet and pregnancy, though?
While there are some opinions floating around on this issue, there is not a lot of research due to the risks associated with putting a pregnant woman on a different diet just to get information.
While this is the case, it is still a worthy cause to discuss.
What Do I Need to Know About the Keto Diet?
To understand if the low-carb diet is right for you – especially during pregnancy – you must first understand what it entails.
The Ketogenic diet involves eating very low-carb, moderate protein and high fat foods. Instead of the body burning carbs, it will burn fat.
The benefits of following a Keto diet are to lose weight, build muscle, and it can also treat different conditions.
Some of the conditions it can help improve are epilepsy, PCOS, diabetes, obesity, and it can even help to prevent and treat some cancers. So, while this diet seems to have so many benefits, it may not be the best choice if you are expecting.
Carbs and Pregnancy
Since the Keto diet is low in carbs, it is helpful to understand how carbs are beneficial, especially when pregnant. For the typical woman, carbs are the main source of energy.
Eating carbs help to keep your energy up. When pregnant, carbs are important because they help to pass that energy onto your fetus to help them develop.
If your body is not used to a low carb diet, you should talk to your doctor before committing to the Keto diet.
Consult Your Doctor
It is very important to consult your doctor with any and all changes you are considering whether you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Your doctor is going to be able to give you the best advice about how to keep you and your baby healthy. It is also vital to keep them up to date with any changes you decide to make throughout your pregnancy.
They can tell you whether or not the Keto diet or any other diet might be beneficial or harmful for you to follow during pregnancy. It is a good idea to take their advice.
While some information does suggest that a pregnancy can be successful eating low carbs, it is important to ensure that you are getting the proper nutrients to help the baby grow.
Before You Get Pregnant
Is this a diet you have been on or are you considering trying it out for the first time?
This is a really important question when it comes to dieting, especially the Keto diet, and pregnancy. You don’t want to deprive your baby of necessary nutrients during development.
While there are some women out there who went through a healthy pregnancy on the Keto diet, it may not have been a change that was made once they found out they were pregnant.
In fact, because there are no research studies out there, the only women who have successfully stuck to the Keto diet while pregnant were women who had been on it before.
If you are considering switching your eating habits or diet routine, make sure you gather all the necessary information you need to know when going on the Keto diet.
Knowing all the necessary facts will help you succeed and avoid health mishaps.
Infertility And the Keto Diet
Some of the most interesting information that has been gathered is about women who were told they would have a difficult time getting pregnant.
In one case, a woman named Carolina Cartier was told she would not be able to conceive due to PCOS. After being on the Keto diet, she was able to have a baby and feels the diet is responsible for this.
One of the factors to consider is that Carolina was on this diet before getting pregnant. The Keto diet may actually be helpful in helping women to get pregnant, but there is no information about whether or not it would be safe to switch over after conception.
Don’t Change Your Diet Partway Through
Since there is no research out there about changing your diet once you find out you’re pregnant or during pregnancy, it is important to stick to what you are doing. Due to the way the Keto diet affects the body and the fact that you would be cutting out almost all carbs, it is advisable not to do this in the middle of your pregnancy.
In the end, the best choice you can make is to keep both you and your baby safe and healthy during your pregnancy and after they are born. If you are in the process of working on getting pregnant, you can talk to your doctor about beginning this diet.
They will know whether or not this is a good choice for you. If you are already pregnant and are looking for ways to maintain weight, talking to your doctor may be a good idea before you make any drastic changes to your diet.
They may have some other suggestions as to what will work for you and your baby.
Educate Yourself On the Keto Diet
Remember while there is no evidence to suggest the Keto diet is harmful to a pregnant woman, there is also equal information about it being helpful. Upon getting pregnant, a woman’s body goes through many natural changes.
Cutting out carbs, which are necessary for energy and development may be more detrimental than helpful.
When the body first goes through ketosis, it can cause appetite suppression, digestive issues, and fatigue. These can affect your pregnancy and the health of your baby.
Therefore, it is very important to speak to your doctor and make sure you are getting all the nutrients your baby needs to maintain health both during and after pregnancy.
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