Item 1 of 2
INRhttps://stores.miniklub.in/baby-store/-in-hubballi/-in-kalidas-nagar/miniklub-in-kalidas-nagar-hubballi--3PcclP/articles/is-it-safe-to-be-on-a-keto-diet-during-pregnancy--73fc652c-7606-4c83-b235-6da0c5865958Plot No 1, RS No 534-A2, Mr Gundger Building, Shirur Park 2nd StageKalidas Nagar, hubballi580020
MiniKlub, Kalidas Nagar, hubballi
Baby Clothing and Kidswear Store in Kalidas Nagar, Hubballi, Karnataka
Plot No 1, RS No 534-A2, Mr Gundger Building, Shirur Park 2nd Stage, Nearby The Udupi Grand Hotel, Kalidas Nagar, hubballi, karnataka - 580020
06126714988
744.8
Store Locator
Write ReviewsDrive Direction
Get in Touch
MiniKlub Social Feeds in Kalidas Nagar, hubballi
Is It Safe To Be On A Keto Diet During Pregnancy?
Ahhh, pregnancy. The miracle of life, bringing another human into this world, a time when you look forward to meeting your little bundle of joy. But it is also a time of mood swings, cravings, pain, and, of course, weight gain.
Many young mothers struggle to come to terms with the way their bodies change during and after pregnancy. I have gone through this mental state, If that is the case for you, it is only natural for you to turn to dieting as a way to bring your weight gain under control.
This is where keto diet comes into play. It is a very trendy low-carb, high fat diet that many influencers swear by. We have all seen the online posts and the “result” pictures.
But is it safe to follow keto diet during pregnancy? I mean, we all know that a “raw food diet pregnancy” is out of the question, but will just cutting back on carbs during pregnancy cause any complications? Its not common to come across keto diet pregnancy success stories. This article sheds light on these topics.
Can You Do A Keto Diet When Pregnant?
The short answer is “No”.
Pregnancy is not a good time to be on a keto diet. In fact, any kind of weight loss plan that demands drastic calorie or carbohydrate cut is not recommended during pregnancy.
Even in case of overweight pregnant women who have to watch their weigh throughout pregnancy, doctors never recommends restricted eating or crash diet.
Instead, they are asked to follow a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats.
Which means, even overweight women should gain some weight during pregnancy. It is of no use to try to not gain weight during pregnancy because such a thing is almost impossible.
Restricted eating or crash dieting in any form while pregnant can seriously compromise the health of both the mother and the baby1.
Now let us see what Keto diet is. Keto diet is a diet plan that involves low carbohydrate, high fat and moderate protein intake (70-80% fat, 5-10% carbohydrate, and 10% – 20% protein).
The fat content in this diet will replace the missing carbs. The body’s energy needs are met through the burning of fat, as there is no carb to release energy. As a result, the body enters a metabolic state called ketosis, which results in weight loss.
When it comes to the safety of keto diet during pregnancy, there just isn’t enough scientific data to say that it’s okay (or not okay) to be on the keto diet while you’re pregnant. Keto diet doesn’t have all the vital nutrients required to carry out a healthy pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a time when women must concentrate on a variety of fruits and vegetables for their nutrients. When it comes to the keto diet, most fruits and vegetables are not permitted as they are loaded with natural sugars and carbohydrates. This will affect their nutrient intake.
Besides, when you stop eating carbs while pregnant, it could create many complications. NTDs is one of the most prevalent low-carb diet birth defects.
According to studies, pregnant women avoiding carbs were 30% more likely to have babies with neural tube defects than those not restricting carbohydrate intake.
Our panel gynaecologist Dr Ankita Patel Tayal says that some people who follow the keto diet also have low levels of key vitamins such as vitamin A, C, K, all of which are important for Mom and baby.
Also, being in ketosis consistently during pregnancy is not a good idea. Basically, though you can certainly switch out some junk food for low carb pregnancy snacks, you shouldn’t switch to an extremely low-carb diet entirely.
How Does Ketosis Affect The Fetus?
Ketosis is a metabolic state in which the body primarily uses ketones, produced from the breakdown of fats in the liver, as a source of energy instead of glucose. Ketones are molecules produced by the liver from fatty acids when carbohydrate intake is restricted.
When the body is in ketosis, ketone levels in the blood will rise. Ketones fronm the mothers blood can potentially cross the placenta and reach the fetus.
- If the ketone level in the mother’s blood is sustained for longer time, it could affect fetal growth and development.
- Ketosis during pregnancy could pave the way to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). IUGR can lead to low birth weight and other complications.
- The fetus could use Ketones as an alternative energy source. This may impair fetal metabolism and organ development.
Although not enough research has been done on humans, the keto diet has been studied in mice.
Based on these studies, a keto diet during pregnancy could alter the way the fetus’s organs develop.
These changes could have a potential impact on organ function and even result in behavioral changes later in life.
Does Keto Diet During Pregnancy Increase The Risk Of Miscarriage?
Pregnancy is a critical time when a woman’s nutritional needs increase to support the growth and development of the fetus.
Following a very low-carbohydrate diet like keto may not provide adequate nutrition for both the mother and the developing baby.
It is not known for sure whether a low-carb diet increases the risk of miscarriage. Also, the effect of keto diet on the body varies with people.
On the other hand, we can not say for sure that a low-carbohydrate diet does not raise the risk of miscarriage. Following are some points to consider:
- Besides being an energy source, carbohydrates play a role in regulating hormone levels, including insulin and cortisol. A ketogenic diet, which is extremely low in carbohydrates, could upset hormonal balance. This could potentially increase the risk of miscarriage.
- Carbohydrates are a primary source of fiber, which is essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiota. Disruptions in gut microbiota composition have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage.
What Are The Benefits Of Keto Diet During Pregnancy?
There are individuals who, believe in the potential benefits of the keto diet during pregnancy. Especially if they followed this diet before getting pregnant to reap its health advantages.
Of course, this diet has some health advantages.
The question is, should you rely on this diet to reap those benefits during pregnancy. Weigh the pros and cons and take a wise decision when it comes to keto pregnancy meal plan.
However, here are some purported benefits often associated with the ketogenic diet during pregnancy. It’s important to keep in mind that the scientific evidence supporting these claims is limited.
1. May benefit pregnant women with epilepsy
Pregnant women with epilepsy can benefit from following a ketogenic diet to help manage their condition during pregnancy.
The use of anti-epileptic drugs can put risk on the developing fetuses. If a woman with epilepsy who was on the ketogenic diet before getting pregnant stays on it during pregnancy, she might be able to control her condition without relying solely on anti-epileptic drugs.
2. Keto diet is good for gestational diabetes
Woman may rely on keto to prevent gestational diabetes. As already explained, keto diet is very low in carbohydrate content. One of the benefits of low carb pregnancy diet is, it lowers the risk of gestational diabetes.
Being in this diet helps stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce fluctuations in insulin levels. This helps to prevent the hike in blood sugar level and could benefit women with gestational diabetes.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is a time when your body is already going through so many natural changes. It is highly inadvisable to forcibly change it even more, or even to artificially restrict those changes. Myself, many other women, and even studies conducted by experts can attest to why that is a bad idea.
A keto diet during pregnancy can have some benefits, certainly. But more research needs to be conducted before a final verdict can be made. In the meanwhile, the potential risks are just not worth it.
Dr Ankita Patel Tayal, MD OBGYN, says that for ethical reasons, there’s been very little research on keto diets during pregnancy, but in general, significantly restrictive diets can be dangerous during pregnancy and are usually not recommended. A balanced, healthful diet is always recommended for the health of both you and your baby.
You are supposed to gain a healthy bit of weight during pregnancy. Unless your doctor finds that your weight gain is too much, and specifically directs you to follow an extreme diet like the keto diet, you shouldn’t try to lose weight in such a drastic way during pregnancy.