Now that the coronavirus is a global threat, some experts have stated that following a carbohydrate-free diet or fasting protocol can boost immunity.
But a newly released analysis shows a different reality. That is, for the first time, he establishes that a ketogenic diet actually leads to the development of a kind of flu, which was often talked about on the net. Keto-Flu, or ketogenic diet flu: a low carbohydrate diet, where ketosis can occur by fasting or with a diet high in fat and low or moderate protein.

KETOGEN DIET: INFLUENZA OR KETO FLU

Keto Flu is a condition often reported by those on a low carb diet. Headache, nausea, intestinal pains are the most frequent symptoms of those who try to follow a carbohydrate-free diet. But it was often considered an exaggeration or a condition related to the effect of the first few days of carbohydrate absence, whereby one feels weaker.

Some, however, speculated that behind this debilitating condition there could be an imbalance of mineral salts. By reducing carbohydrates, the body gets rid of glycogen, or reserve sugars, and releases water. On the one hand this leads to losing weight (not fat) more easily, on the other hand it takes away some mineral salts that are lost in the urine.

KETOGEN DIET: TRUE INFLUENCE AND GREATER RISK OF INFECTIONS

Today, however, a study published in the journal ” Frontiers of Nutrition” warns against Keto Flu, the flu syndrome from a ketogenic diet. Analyzing 75 forums on ketogenic diets and excluding 30 from the survey, a group of Australian researchers speculated that this syndrome really exists. And that affects one in three people on a carbohydrate-free diet, with symptoms lasting from a few days to as many as 4 weeks.

Among the most frequent symptoms, in addition to those reported, we have a greater ease of contracting flu and seasonal ailments; fever; muscle aches; tendency to develop infections; He retched.

The researchers found that the symptoms reported by 100 out of 300 people on the forums were the same “side effects” reported in some studies on the ketogenic diet.
However, these effects have always been neglected by the scientific literature.

In conclusion, they warn us from Australia, it would be better not to do a ketogenic diet (both with fasting and with low carbohydrate and high fat food protocols) in times of coronavirus because this on the contrary could lead to worsening the immune picture, making us more susceptible to infections and flu syndromes.
On the contrary, it is better to stay hydrated and eat a nutritious and balanced diet.

See also: Coronavirus food prophylaxis .
Diet and tips to increase the immune system according to prof. Calabrese.
Coronavirus diet prof. Berrino.