Participating in the keto diet with Perfect Keto while pregnant is something many potential mothers consider.
With all of the benefits circulating about keto diet while pregnant, it can make it an appealing lifestyle to follow.
There are significant advantages and disadvantages of the diet to consider, as we explore in this guide.
What Is the Keto Diet?
Before we get into the details of whether keto is recommended for pregnancy, let’s consider the diet itself.
Typically, this lifestyle change requires you to eat a substantially lower amount of carbs than you’re used to.
Most participants restrict their carbohydrate intake to 50 grams per day, equivalent to two bananas.
What makes it a unique option is its higher fat intake levels based on the calories you should consume daily.
Someone on a 2000-calorie diet will require at least 165 grams of fat in 24 hours, as well as 75 grams of protein.
This diet’s premise is to use healthy fats to jumpstart your metabolism, so you burn fat naturally.
Instead of allowing your system to use carbs as energy, you’ll use animal fats as fuel.
Over time, keto will train your body to burn your body fat as fuel, reducing your overall weight.
When this process occurs, you’ll officially be in a state called ketosis, which is keto’s goal.
Although this diet seems simple enough, it can be challenging for pregnant women to implement.
Is the Keto Diet Safe While Pregnant?
Before embarking on any lifestyle changes while pregnant, it is imperative that you first talk to your doctor.
You’ll want a clear idea of your physical state and whether your system can handle ketosis or not.
Although some pregnant women can benefit from the diet, it can be dangerous and damaging to others.
Why Is Ketosis Good in Pregnancy?
There are a couple of unique benefits that you could experience when entering ketosis during pregnancy.
- Epilepsy Therapy
It’s important to note a few studies about the correlation between epilepsy and keto while pregnant.
Researchers found that non-pharmacological therapies, like a ketosis diet, assisted pregnant women with the brain disorder in one study.
The two participants experienced reduced seizures with minimal side effects by embarking on their new diet.
At 12 months of fetal development, there weren’t any significant signs of abnormal growth or development.
Also, both children were born with normal neurodevelopment.
- Managing Gestational Diabetes
One of the most pressing issues of pregnancy is gestational diabetes, which only affects women during pregnancy.
This disorder typically goes away after giving birth but can increase your chances of developing Type 2 diabetes.
While pregnant, gestational diabetes can cause significant risks to your developing fetus.
Case studies have found that keto diets can help manage some forms of diabetes.
However, it’s unnecessary to dive head-first into keto, as you can easily manage some small changes.
For example, you don’t have to do a full-keto diet, but instead implement more healthy fats, protein, fiber, vegetables, and fruits.
Your body’s blood sugar levels are less likely to fluctuate by reducing your carb intake.
This event helps manage your likelihood of developing gestational diabetes, especially if you develop unhealthy eating habits.
Does Keto Increase Fertility?
Now that you have an idea of two instances where keto can be useful for pregnancy, let’s discuss getting pregnant.
You’ll find a collection of online blogs and articles suggesting keto has been the savior for couples experiencing infertility.
This point is especially true for women with PCOS, as they tend to have difficulty managing their body weight and blood sugar levels.
At this time, there’s limited research into whether keto is a clinically-significant cure for infertility.
However, it can help your body lose weight, which is essential to conceiving.
With keto, women with PCOS can manage their blood sugar, then transition to weight loss.
As your body loses weight, your hormone production returns to normal, which is essential for getting pregnant.
When your hormones are regulated, your chances of conceiving can increase substantially.
With that said, keto might not be the sure-fire answer to your fertility concerns.
Can You Lose Weight on Keto While Pregnant?
Another significant benefit that expecting mothers might attribute to keto is how it helps your body lose weight.
Managing your weight while pregnant is essential to your health and your baby’s health.
Although you want to ensure your fetus is sufficiently nourished, gaining too much weight can be of concern.
If keto worked for you before getting pregnant, it would likely continue to help you lose weight while pregnant.
Your body will still be able to enter ketosis whether pregnant or not, but managing your diet will be trickier.
Often, women find they can only eat certain ingredients when pregnant; otherwise, they become ill.
Also, you have to show extreme self-control when managing your cravings throughout the day.
It’s expected that women switch their diets during pregnancy, though.
Several women find themselves turning vegetarian or vegan, as they can’t stand the taste or smell of meat.
It’s highly recommended you discuss healthy ways to manage weight gain while pregnant with your doctor.
Why Is Ketosis Bad in Pregnancy?
Keto is a special diet that comes with many benefits for non-pregnant participants.
It’s important to remember that there are also disadvantages to the diet, especially when you’re pregnant.
- Nutrient Deficiencies
One of the most pressing concerns with keto is that you could potentially experience nutritional deficiencies.
Maintaining a diet with an average body is challenging, and while pregnant, it becomes even more challenging.
If you intend on doing keto while pregnant, it’s best to master the diet before trying for a baby.
Without proper diet management, you could force your body to experience a lack of essential nutrients.
Some of these include:
- Selenium
- Folate
- Iodine
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- DHA
With that said, you can manage keto during pregnancy as long as you ensure you’re eating correctly.
Without the essentials, your fetus won’t develop properly, which can lead to significant defects.
- Reduced Glucose Levels
Did you know that one of the components developing fetuses need is glucose?
During pregnancy, your baby uses glucose to generate energy for their growth and development.
Since keto reduces the amount of glucose in your system, you could be removing an essential fuel source from your fetus.
Like we discussed, keto forces your body to rely on ketones for fuel instead of glucose.
By reducing your blood sugar to potentially unhealthy levels, you can negatively affect your baby’s development.
There are many essentials mothers are expected to eat that don’t fall within the guidelines for the keto diet.
You’ll need a healthy assortment of fruits, nuts, beans, and nearly every vegetable under the sun.
However, a modified form of keto that allows you to still consume the nutrients your body needs can be beneficial.
- Likelihood of Birth Defects
One study is continually referred to when it comes to discussing keto and pregnancy.
In 2013, researchers decided to test the effect of ketogenic diets and pregnancy in mice.
They wanted to determine if there were any signs of congenital disabilities in mice who ate this specific diet while pregnant.
By the end of the study, they were able to see significant signs of developmental changes.
When the standard and keto diet embryos were compared, the KD participants had the following:
- Smaller pharynx
- Smaller brain
- Larger heart
- Smaller cervical spinal cord
- Smaller hypothalamus
- Smaller midbrain and pons
After the study, researchers noted that keto could significantly change fetal development.
The differences in embryonic organ growth were the most prevalent.
They were confident that these organ dysfunctions could lead to behavioral changes in later life.
- Keto Flu
It’s common for women to experience morning sickness symptoms when pregnant.
Keto flu, an illness that occurs when you first enter ketosis, can make morning sickness worse and harder to manage.
You’ll experience many adverse effects as your body is going through natural changes, especially with an unmanaged diet.
The most common symptoms of keto flu include:
- Dehydration
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Bloating
- Gassiness
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Bad breath
- High cholesterol
- Muscle cramping
- Stomach pain
How to Manage Keto While Pregnant
Use a Dietician
Dieticians are exceptional professionals in developing and managing a healthier lifestyle.
You’ll have a good idea of the ingredients you should be consuming to help maximize your body’s power.
With their ample training, dieticians can quickly determine whether keto or another diet can help you experience the healthiest pregnancy.
With their help, you’ll receive a thorough meal plan that focuses on the essentials your body needs.
They will also have a good idea of whether keto is right for you or not, whether before, during, or after pregnancy.
You can guarantee you’ll experience all of the benefits of a healthy diet with the help of a dietician.
Perfect Keto and Pregnancy
If you’ve been given the green light to begin managing a healthy keto diet, Perfect Keto is the resource you need.
They have several safe items to consume for keto during pregnancy, including snack bars.
This innovative program’s primary concept is to ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle while dieting.
By focusing on natural and whole foods, your body will get many crucial nutrients to sustain a healthy fetus.
You’re also less likely to experience some side effects of pregnancy, including exhaustion and general fatigue.
Along with their food products, Perfect Keto has plenty of user-friendly guides to help you get started with keto.
They’re an invaluable resource to help you take advantage of an innovative diet for you and your baby.
Keto Diet While Pregnant: Final Thoughts
If you’re thinking about a keto diet while pregnant, Perfect Keto is a useful resource to consider.
Keto can be beneficial for some and potentially dangerous for other expecting mothers.
It’s best to talk about your lifestyle with your doctor, especially if you’re considering starting keto.
