For more than four decades of experience with diets and weight loss—and the associated trends that come and go—I’ve observed that when we go to drastic extremes with diets, whether it’s extremely low fat or, in the case of keto, extremely low carb, it puts too much stress on the body and serious problems arise.

Originally developed in the 1920s as a medical treatment for children with a seizure disorder, the ketogenic diet has taken the weight loss world by storm for the past few years. With its goal of 75 percent fat, 20 percent protein and a mere 5 percent carbs, it’s a huge change from the standard American diet of more than 50 percent carbs. This way of eating switches your body from burning sugar and carbs as fuel to using fats as its primary energy source, and this can be a total game changer in your health—when it’s done properly.

Who Shouldn’t Go Keto

First of all, if keto failed you—you didn’t lose weight and you felt awful—it’s not your fault. One diet truly does not fit all, and keto may not be the right fit for you. Here’s a list of everyone who should avoid the keto diet:

• You have a history of pancreatitis or high triglycerides.

• You have gallbladder disease or no longer have a gallbladder.

• You have low blood pressure (hypotension).

• You have kidney disease or a history of kidney failure.

• You have multiple nutrient deficiencies or have had weight loss surgery.

• You have low gastric motility.

• You have tumors in your abdomen or liver.

• You have known genetic conditions—from birth—that can’t tolerate ketosis.

Fix Your Fat Metabolism and Make It Work for You

Underlying most problems with the keto diet is trouble with your fat metabolism. Your body wants to burn fat as its primary fuel, but if your bile is congested, you have too little bile, you’re missing your gallbladder, you have fatty liver disease, or you have other digestive issues, then you can’t digest all the fats the keto diet requires you to eat, and you’ll feel worse instead of better. The first step to fixing your fat metabolism is building better bile, which starts with UNI KEY Health’s Bile Builder. Free-flowing bile is essential for eliminating toxins and digesting fats properly.

The next step is to rev-up your fat-burning metabolism by eating the right fats—essential Omega 3 and Omega 6 fats from good quality sources. When it comes to weight loss, good quality fat is your friend—essential fats nourish and create healthy cells, reduce inflammation, and help shift your body into burning fats for fuel, all while feeding your brain and balancing your hormones. Choose grassfed meats, free range poultry and eggs, and cold-pressed organic oils like hemp, flax, and walnut to maximize your Omega 3 and Omega 6 fat intake.

Once your fat metabolism is working optimally, you may still find keto just isn’t right for you. Your ancestors may have had less of a fat-focused diet, and this is still in your genetic make-up. It’s important to listen to your body and do your homework to find the diet that’s right for you.

How to Know When You’re Eating Right for You

There isn’t a single diet out there that will work for everyone, unless it has the flexibility for you to customize it to suit your individual needs. But how do you know when you’ve struck gold and found the plan that fits you, your lifestyle, your genetics, and your metabolism to a tee? Here are the signs I recommend looking for:

• You wake up with energy and in a good mood

• You feel more energetic after you eat—not less

• You lose weight easily

• Cravings are a thing of the past

• Your blood tests show you are healthy

• Your digestion works the way it should

• Exercise doesn’t leave you feeling drained

• You handle stress well

• You fall asleep easily and wake feeling well-rested

• Your body feels good and you have a strong sense of wellbeing

Sounds too good to be true? Then you haven’t found the right diet for you.

The underlying premise of the keto diet is right—your body wants to burn fat as its primary source of fuel. The problem is, you still need carbs to make hormones—thyroid, sex, and stress hormones, to be precise. Without enough carbs, you can feel tired, sluggish, unable to handle stress, have night sweats, and gain weight far too easily, among other signs of hormone imbalance. Too many carbs and the bloating, blood sugar increases, and fatigue set in. Carbs, fats, and proteins all have one thing in common—they each have a “sweet spot” that creates optimal health in your body—too much or too little of any one of them is not a good thing. 

The First Lady of Nutrition, Ann Louise Gittleman, is a nutritional visionary and health pioneer, fearlessly standing on the front lines of diet and detox, the environment, and women’s health. Described by Self Magazine as one of the Top Ten Notable Nutritionists in the United States, thousands of nutritionists, health coaches, and practitioners have benefited from her work. An author of 35 books, she continues to rewrite the rules of nutrition with The New Fat Flush Plan (McGraw-Hill, 2017) and National Bestseller, Radical Metabolism (Da Capo Press, August 2018). annlouise.com