Keto is a great diet! Have you been on a no carb or low carb diet and you start feeling one (or more) of the following symptoms?
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Constipation
- Insomnia
- Palpitations
- Feeling “wired but tired”
- Crushing anxiety
- Weird muscle twitches
- Or you just can’t sleep
Everyone blames “keto flu” or not being fat-adapted. But most of the time? It’s mineral loss. Specifically: sodium and potassium. Insulin levels fall and that changes the kidney’s behavior. Insulin helps the body retain sodium and when it drops, the kidneys start dumping sodium like crazy through the urine. And when sodium goes… potassium usually follows. Sodium and potassium work together in a very tight relationship.
So when one is off, the other is rarely far behind.
This is why so many low-carb people present as sodium + potassium deficient on HTMA.
Even though you’re eating “clean.”
Even though you’re taking magnesium.
Even though you’re doing “everything right.”
Without sodium and potassium:
- The adrenals start to tank
- Digestion slows down
- Stress tolerance drops
- Thyroid function gets sluggish
- Detox capacity flatlines
- And overall resilience tanks
Yes, some thrive on low-carb especially if it fits their metabolic type.
But for others, especially slow oxidizers or those with weak adrenals, cutting carbs without repleting minerals is a recipe for burnout.
Best thing to do if you are in this situation is rebuild the minerals first before diving into major dietary overhaul. Remember, adding just potassium-rich foods isn’t always enough. Sometimes you need actual sodium and potassium supplementation to feel better.