If you're just planning to get started with the keto diet, or are at the beginning of your journey - it's really worth your time to read this.
In general, most of us don't take hydration very seriously - we drink water or other beverages when we are thirsty, and because our bodies are able to adapt perfectly even to highly unfavourable conditions, we may never really notice that we are not providing them with what they need to function optimally.
We just always 'ride half a whistle' and we think it's just the way it's supposed to be, because it's never really been any different.
However, the matter fundamentally changes when we start to actively participate in sport or switch to a specific diet.
Then the body can already rebel strongly and show this in a worse (sometimes even dramatically worse) well-being, a feeling of permanent fatigue, etc., which we very often mistakenly attribute to the change we have made, i.e. taking up sporting activities (that's why we feel constantly tired), or changing our diet - this diet apparently doesn't suit me, so I won't continue it....
And the reason for this may be very prosaic - dehydration (but not the kind you feel because you feel thirsty, but the kind you don't!) and low levels of vitamins and electrolytes in the body, which can really overwhelm the body when subjected to greater stress/change.
Most of us don't take this type of 'story' seriously (to be perfectly honest, I didn't myself) until we have experienced it ourselves - problems of unknown origin, headaches, a feeling of weakness, permanent fatigue, etc., and managed to get rid of them by taking conscious care to properly hydrate and replenish electrolytes and vitamins.
Only then do we realise that it really is that important and can make (and make us feel) such a huge difference.
And why is this so important especially on a keto diet? - because it is a diet that can bring us a great deal of health benefits - it is an excellent way of dramatically improving our metabolic health, the benefits of which can be enjoyed by the vast majority of people, even those who are very active, but is the diet most conducive to drastic dehydrationwhich absolutely does not involve feeling thirsty (it is important to mentally detach ourselves from the notion that if we do not feel thirsty, we cannot become dehydrated).
When we are on keto, we lead to a state in which the body's glycogen stores are minimal, and thus we rid the body (primarily the muscles) of the huge stores of water that this glycogen was binding. By getting rid of a large amount of water from the body permanently, we are also getting rid of a large amount of electrolytes at the same time, as a rule, and leading the body into a state of so-called chronic dehydration.
And if you're on keto and on top of that you're very active, proper hydration and electrolyte replenishment is one of the most important things to take care of in order to feel good - not to feel permanent fatigue, dizziness, even a kind of constant pressure/noise in the head.
Often such symptoms are blamed on the adjustment period and lack of carbohydrates. Yes, sugar withdrawal can give symptoms analogous to drug rehab, but it should stop after a few days, and if the unpleasant symptoms last longer, they will 99% be the result of dehydration and lack of electrolytes.
And this can be remedied very easily!
So if you are on keto, and the adaptation period is over (it should be), and you feel unwell/weak all the time, then dehydration and lack of electrolytes is the most likely cause.
Many people give up on keto because they simply feel bad on it....
Taking care of this issue will allow you to enjoy the benefits of ketosis while feeling good, and will allow you to last as long as you like.
