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HelpDoes Anybody Else Feel Irritable on Keto (self.keto)

submitted by Sundial1k

I have noticed some real agitation/irritation in this last few days being on keto, and I sometimes really don't feel all of that well. I feel like it is all of the fatty foods. My upper abdomen is sometimes uncomfortable too, which I also feel is the fat.

I found if I eat some carbs; a bit of fruit I feel better and more relaxed too.

Does anybody else have this or something similar?

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[–]ReverseLazarusMOD Keto since 2017 - 37F/SW215/CW135[M] [score hidden] stickied comment (10 children)

Are you getting 5000mg sodium, 1000-4000mg potassium, and 400mg bioavailable magnesium daily?

If the answer is “I don’t know how many mg I am getting,” start tracking it.

Buy salt and salt substitute in the grocery store. You don’t need any fancy products or pills for sodium and potassium. Magnesium glycinate is very cheap on amazon to boot.

Irritability is a common keto flu symptom, and the keto flu is nothing more than electrolyte deficiency. It can happen anytime you are deficient, not just at the start. Google “ketoade recipes” and start feeling better. 👍🏻

There’s more info in the FAQ if you’d like to know more:

https://www.reddit.com/r/keto/wiki/faq

If fatty foods are making you feel poorly, then switch out fat calories for more protein.

[–]No_Pop_7924 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Yes, but in the world’s defense I was generally irritable prior to Keto too.

[–]Worldly-Letterhead61 6 points7 points  (4 children)

I was in the same boat as you and having hot flashes as well. I bought myself an electrolyte supplement and all of the issues disappeared overnight. You can make your own ketoade if you prefer, but I am too lazy to bother.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks!

[–]RNprn 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Can I ask what brand you're using? I'd like to try it!

[–]Worldly-Letterhead61 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I use Xtend zero sugar. You can get it at Walmart or order it from Amazon for about $25 for 30 servings. It is 1 carb per serving, I thonk

[–]RNprn 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you!

[–]natalove 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I'm going through some kind of electrolyte imbalance I can't quite pinpoint, so the dull headache does get annoying, but other than that I'm super fucking giddy.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Good to hear it; other than the headache. Look at the electrolyte/keto-ade comments others have given me...

[–]natalove 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I'm chugging it every day, the good stuff. I'm missing something though or I'm overdoing something else, it's kind of complicated to track. I'll figure it out. You will too!

[–]Sundial1k[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That could be it over doing something. Look up side effects of the various supplements, also caffeine, and more so; caffeine withdrawal can cause headaches...

[–]ringobob43m/5'9"/SW272/CW222/GW160 2 points3 points  (4 children)

So, not keto, but a few months ago, before starting keto, I started counting calories (again - I've had success in the past with straight up calorie restriction and exercise) and after a couple weeks was extremely irritable. I dumped it and just ate, and pretty much immediately felt better. Off the wagon again.

So, all that is to say, it's certainly possible for your diet to result in irritability.

You're missing something. I haven't felt that way on keto, but I also eat a variety of foods, different meats, high fat dairy, certain veggies, even a little fruit. Every few days I have a bit of 70% dark chocolate. I wasn't feeling any especially bad effects, a pretty minor headache, but I started supplementing electrolytes. I know some people eat the same things every day, if that's you you probably want to look into a multivitamin and supplementing electrolytes.

The first suggestion for everybody feeling a bit off is to check your electrolytes. I get enough sodium from my diet, I have some flavored water with no-salt for potassium and take a magnesium supplement. Just 100mg magnesium glycinate once a day, I'm under the recommended dose but when I take more it leads to diarrhea which is a sign I'm taking too much.

If that doesn't help, look for other vitamin deficiencies. Start with a multivitamin and go from there.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Thanks!

Pay attention to when your headaches occur. Is it around the dark chocolate, as the caffeine in it either before, or after eating it is sometimes a problem with some people.

Also you could break your magnesium up throughout the day; bite a little bit off of the pill a few times a day, or only after meals it you have to, or dissolve a tablet in your water; its gritty on the bottom of the glass, but keep swirling it when you drink, keep refilling it; by the end of the day it will all be gone.

[–]ringobob43m/5'9"/SW272/CW222/GW160 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Nope, headaches had nothing to do with the chocolate, and that caffeine is way less then what I get from coffee daily.

I tried splitting the magnesium up, same result. It's a capsule, I'm sure I could open it and spread it out even further, but at the moment I'm having zero negative effects at all so I'm not concerned about it.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, the chocolate is nothing if you are a coffee drinker.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your electrolyte suggestion, it helped with a few things even prior to keto; made some ketoade...

[–]seroquel600mg 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Also, hot weather will make you a grumpasaurus.

[–]Sundial1k[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that could be it too, as well as pets thinking I am sleeping too long...

[–]barbaricMeat 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I was really irritable when I stopped smoking and then stopped vaping, I think it was all the clean air. As soon as I have a cigarette or hit a vape I’d feel better and more relaxed.

Yeah other people have had addiction.

[–]Sundial1k[S] -1 points0 points  (2 children)

Thanks for sharing, I'm sure it will help others. I've never been a smoker or a vaper though.

[–]barbaricMeat 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yes but you’re addicted to sugar and carbs. Like we all once were.

What you described was withdrawal irritability and then feeling good once you got a “fix” of sugar and carbs.

[–]Sundial1k[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I've been off of carbs for awhile, maybe I had too little of the allowed carbs on the day(s) before. I find I don't have much of an appetite on keto, and often don't finish eating; usually my vegies.

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[removed]

    [–]Sundial1k[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Thanks, but no Cdf symptoms...

    [–]keto-ModTeam[M] 2 points3 points locked comment (0 children)

    Stop spamming this here.