26 Times You Should Say 'No Thanks' to the Keto Diet

11. If You're Lactose-Intolerant

If you struggle with a dairy allergy or lactose-intolerance, the ketogenic diet may be more of a challenge for you considering a majority of the recipes call for heavy creams, butter, sour cream, yogurt, and cheese. In fact, dairy plays a significant role in the ketogenic diet, as heavy cheeses, creams, yogurts, and butter are an excellent source of high-quality fats, and some of these dairy options even provide protein; the two main components of the ketogenic diet. A dairy allergy is when the body struggles to break down lactose, as, without the lactase enzyme, the lactose becomes metabolized by gut bacteria, which can result in an upset stomach, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, and flatulence.

Although challenging, it is not impossible to go completely dairy-free while following the ketogenic diet, as there are a wide variety of dairy substitutions and dairy-free recipes. An individual following the ketogenic diet with a dairy allergy will need to consume more low-carb fruits and vegetables, animal-based fats, red meat, poultry, and seafood, plant-based oils, and more nuts and seeds to make up for the lack of dairy. However, this restriction does pigeon-hold you to consume a lot of the same foods without a ton of variety. If you are having difficulty finding keto-friendly recipes that are dairy-free, you can also take a lactase enzyme supplement before consuming dairy-heavy meals.

12. If You Have Specific Food Allergies

Similar to a dairy allergy, specific food allergies, such as to peanuts, tree nuts, certain fruits and vegetables, and even meat allergies, can severely hinder a person who wants to or is trying to faithfully follow the ketogenic diet. This is mainly due to the types of food individuals are encouraged to eat while on this diet, such as red meat, poultry, seafood, heavy and full-fat dairy products, low-carb fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, plant-based oils, and ketone supplements. Some individuals may have an allergy to certain proteins, such as avocados and legumes, further making this diet difficult, if not impossible to follow. Some ketone supplements contain dairy and nuts in them, as well are usually highly-protein based, therefore if you have any sort of allergy to any of these specific foods, the ketogenic diet might not be right for you. Always read the label of any supplement recommended for the ketogenic diet, as well as any other foods that are recommended as well.