‘Keto Insomnia’ Is a Real Thing for Some Dieters, So Here’s How to Fix It
If you’ve started the keto diet recently and realized that you suddenly have trouble sleeping, you’re not alone. The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat eating plan that changes the way your body burns fat and gets energy. Although this can lead to impressive weight-loss results, it can also involve some pesky side effects — such as keto insomnia.
What is keto insomnia?
Keto insomnia is basically an umbrella term for having difficulty falling asleep while on the keto diet, especially when you first start the plan. Although many keto dieters report struggling with this annoying problem, there is no definite answer why this happens, according to Perfect Keto. However, there are a few theories.
One possible explanation for keto insomnia is an association with the dreaded keto flu, a loose collection of symptoms that some keto dieters experience. Some of these symptoms include brain fog, dehydration, and irritability. Considering keto flu usually happens right around the time when the body first starts to change how it gets energy, it wouldn’t be totally surprising if insomnia decided to make an appearance as well.
Another potential explanation for keto insomnia is simply having more energy than usual while adjusting to the keto diet. As we all know, eating too many carbs in one sitting can sometimes make us feel pretty tired, so we suppose it wouldn’t be shocking to feel more revved up after severely limiting them. This is especially true for those among us who were big pasta and cake fans before cutting them out of our daily meals.
Though keto insomnia can be incredibly frustrating — especially since lack of sleep can hinder weight loss — it’s comforting to know you’re not the only one going through it. And luckily, there are a few easy ways you can fight it.
How to Get Rid of Keto Insomnia
According to Keto Vale, one of the best ways to combat keto insomnia is to make sure your electrolytes — minerals that help balance the water in your body — are in a good balance. When you’re on a keto diet, electrolytes are often flushed from your body much quicker than usual because your body tends to release more water. To add more electrolytes to your diet, simply eat foods with potassium such as avocados, consume magnesium-heavy meals like salmon and pumpkin seeds, and drink plenty of water, according to Ketogenic.com.
Other ways to get rid of keto insomnia include eating your daily carbs closer to bedtime, keeping your bedroom cool and darkened, and even trying a meditation or yoga routine before bed, according to Perfect Keto. It probably can’t hurt to incorporate some general tips for better sleep into your nightly routine as well.
If you’re having trouble with keto insomnia right now, fear not: There’s a light at the end of the tunnel. According to Healthline, many long-term keto dieters report better sleep than ever before after they’ve fully adapted to the diet. So if this eating plan is the right one for you, at least you might have better sleep to look forward to in the long run!
Remember: Talk to your doctor before trying any new diet, especially one as restrictive as keto.
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